Sambalpur: Seven persons, including the owner of a petrol tank, have been arrested for allegedly stealing diesel worth around Rs 26 lakh from the oil pipeline of Sambalpur-Jatni IOCL, police said on Sunday.
The petrol pump owner is a resident of Kalahandi while four others are from Sambalpur district, two from Bargarh district.
A bank account of the arrested accused has been frozen. The tanker, car and a generator used in the theft have also been seized, police said.
According to Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar, the accused had stolen around 8,500 litres of diesel from the pipeline that passed through Hathibari forest.
On February 10, IOCL authorities found that the diesel was being stolen somewhere. They lodged a complaint with the Jujumara police station following which police launched an investigation.
Whether any other person involved in the crime is being investigated, he said.
