In a sharp and decisive operation, the Khordha district Supply Department has struck a major blow against the black marketing of petroleum products.
Acting on strict directives from the Odisha state government, a special team conducted multiple raids across petrol pumps and unauthorised storage points on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, seizing a whopping 505 litres of illegally hoarded diesel.
The raid was ordered by Khordha District Collector Amrit Ruturaj and executed under the leadership of District Supply Officer Jnanendra Mishra. The team included Assistant Supply Officer Sunita Behera, Balianata Supply Inspector Alakarani Mallick, and Balipatana Supply Inspector Netrananda Behera.
During the surprise checks, officials recovered the contraband diesel from six individuals – Niranjan Nayak, Bulu Pradhan, Puran Pradhan, Sushant Kumar Choudhury, Tapan Kumar Sahu, and Ajay Sahu. None of them possessed a valid distributor licence or a fire safety certificate from the Fire Services Department, making their entire operation blatantly illegal.
What shocked authorities even more was the brazen profiteering. These hoarders were allegedly selling the diesel in crowded areas at a whopping ₹140 per litre, exploiting public demand and turning scarcity into super-profits. Along with the diesel, the team also confiscated the measuring cans (pala) and funnels (kahali) used for the shady sales.
The state government has made it clear that such anti-social activities will not be tolerated. With fuel prices remaining a sensitive issue for common citizens, the administration has intensified monitoring and raids across the district to ensure that essential commodities reach genuine consumers and not greedy middlemen.
More raids are expected in the coming days as authorities continue their drive to clean up the supply chain.
