Illegal LPG refilling racket busted in Ahmedabad, one arrested with 79 cylinders

A gas refilling racket involving the illegal transfer of LPG from large commercial cylinders to smaller domestic cylinders has been busted in Ahmedabad’s Odhav area. Police caught a man red-handed while refilling gas at a shop and warehouse and seized 79 gas cylinders from the premises.

According to investigators, the accused was transferring gas from 17-kg commercial LPG cylinders into 5-kg cylinders and charging customers ₹230 per kilogram. Rising gas prices are believed to have fueled demand for such illegal refilling operations.

Acting on a tip-off, Odhav police raided a shop and warehouse near the gate of Darshandham Society, where they found a young man engaged in gas refilling. He was identified as Udaysinh, a resident of Vastral, who was reportedly operating the business himself. Two customers were also present at the spot during the raid.

Police said the accused used a valve-fitted pipe to transfer gas from larger cylinders into smaller ones. A case has been registered against him, and he has been arrested. During questioning, he admitted to charging customers ₹230 per kilogram for the refilled gas.

Odhav police seized 79 gas cylinders and other materials worth a total of ₹2.61 lakh and have launched a further investigation into the matter.