Pune, 16 April 2026: In a major crackdown, Kalepadal police busted an illegal LPG refilling racket in Pune’s Handewadi area, seizing 103 gas cylinders and a vehicle worth around ₹10 lakh.
The operation targeted the unauthorized transfer of domestic LPG into commercial cylinders for black market sale.
The action followed a tip-off received by police personnel Mahadev Shinde, who alerted the team about suspicious activity in the area. Acting swiftly, police raided the location and found a tempo loaded with both domestic and commercial gas cylinders.
During the raid, officers discovered that gas was being refilled from domestic cylinders into smaller commercial cylinders in a hazardous manner inside a nearby shop. The activity posed serious safety risks, apart from violating regulations.
The accused, identified as Nitin Hanumant Holkar (38), a resident of Handewadi, was caught at the scene. Police said he did not have any valid license or authorization to carry out such operations.
Authorities seized all 103 cylinders along with a vehicle, estimating the total value at around ₹10 lakh. A case has been registered against Holkar at Kalepadal Police Station under the Essential Commodities Act, and further investigation is underway.