What action taken against petrol pumps, asks HC

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Monday asked the union government, the state government and oil companies about what action has been taken against petrol pump owners who have been caught using ‘cheat-chips’ in fuel dispensing units to give lower quantities of fuel to consumers than what they paid for.

Admitting a writ filed by lawyer Ashok Nigam, Justice Sudhir Agarwal directed the union, state governments and oil companies to file their replies before the court on May 22, the next date of hearing of the case.

The court also inquired about penalty, if any, imposed on petrol pump owners caught cheating consumers.

In his writ, Nigam demanded cancellation of licences of petrol pumps that have been caught cheating consumers, realisation of money from them, and stern penal action.

Nigam also requested the court to constitute a monitoring cell to oversee working of petrol pumps so that they are not able to cheat consumers in future.

Apart from this, the writ sought direction to oil companies to publish names of petrol pumps and their owners who have been caught cheating consumers.

“I have demanded cancellation of licence of petrol pumps caught cheating consumers. The ill-gotten money must also be realised from them,” said Nigam.

During hearing of the case, counsel of union, state governments and oil companies were also present.

The STF unearthed the petrol pump scam in Lucknow on April 28 after carrying out raids at fuel stations.

Thereafter, several raids have been conducted on various petrol pumps in the state capital.

The crackdown revealed that petrol pump owners were using a hi-tech chip-based device to dispense lower quantities of petrol to consumers than what they paid for.

The action followed the arrest of an electric technician – identified as Rajendra – who confessed to installing the ‘cheat chip’ at hundreds of petrol pumps across Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

The raids also led to the arrest of 22 others, including four petrol pump owners, after seven separate FIRs were registered in this connection.

At least 15 electronic chips and 29 remote devices were seized from these filling stations.

Officials sealed seven petrol pumps, and the cancellation of their licences was recommended.

The probe revealed that around 80% of the petrol pumps across Uttar Pradesh were using ‘cheat chips’ to dispense lower quantities of fuel to consumers.