Adulterated diesel scam: Wada police officer transferred

Police officer Sudhir Sankhe has been transferred for overlooking the adulterated diesel scam. The Solapur police had recently arrested seven persons involved in the diesel scam and had sealed Sai Om Petrochemicals in Wada

An inspector, in charge of Wada police station, has been transferred to a low-profile department in Dahanu with immediate effect, by the Palghar police district administration for failing to take action against the ₹16.20 crore adulterated diesel scam in Wada.

Solapur police officer had sealed the Wada unit, located at Khupri village in Wada, Palghar, after the seven arrested accused divulged about the adulterated diesel scam being carried out across state.

Inspector Sudhir Sankhe has been transferred for overlooking the spurious diesel scam.

The Solapur police had recently arrested seven persons involved in the diesel scam and had sealed Sai Om Petrochemicals in Wada. The spurious chemical-laden diesel was manufactured in Wada firm and later transported to Solapur and other areas for sale in the state.

Senior inspector Sanjay Salunkhe of Solapur police with his team had sealed the Wada unit, located at Khupri village in Wada, Palghar, after the seven arrested accused divulged that they procured the adulterated diesel for sale in Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli and even in adjoining areas of Telangana.

The main users of adulterated diesel were long-distance luxury buses and taxis. The drivers made forged bills of sale to cheat their employers, said police. An open parking ground, off the Pune-Hyderabad road, belonging to a private bus agency, was the main centre where the adulterated diesel was filled in private luxury long-distance buses, an officer said.

“We raided the spot and the racket came light. The main source of production of spurious diesel was the Wada petrochemical unit,” he added.

The police have arrested Himanshu Bhumkar, 21, of Barshi taluka, along with Tanaji Tate, Yuvraj Prabhalkar, Avinash Ganje, Sudhakar Ganje and two others under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and sections 379 (theft), 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 287, 336 (endangering human life), 465, 467, 468, 471 (forgery) of the Indian Penal Code. “The accused are in police custody and further probe is on,” said the officer.