In a major crackdown on black marketing, authorities in Coimbatore seized 1,000 commercial LPG cylinders that were allegedly hoarded for sale at inflated prices,and arrested the gas agency owner.
The arrested was identified as S Karthikeyan, 33, of Lakshmi Mills, who had been involved in LPG distribution services for the past three years. He was booked under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
Taking advantage of the LPG crisis, some traders had been hoarding commercial gas cylinders and selling them at higher prices on the black market. While the official price of a commercial cylinder was fixed at 2,100, reports said the same cylinders were being sold for 4,500 to 5,000 in black.
Acting on specific intelligence, officials from Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum, along with the Civil Supplies CID police, conducted a surprise raid at Shanthi Energies on Vinayagar Kovil Street near Lakshmi Mill Junction on Avinashi Road.
During the raid, officials found 1,000 filled commercial cylinders stored at a single location and seized it. Revenue officials subsequently sealed the agency.
Police booked Karthikeyan under several sections of the ESMA and remanded him in judicial custody. Efforts are on to apprehend three others involved in the case.
