Inferior LPG tankers racket busted in Vadodara, FIR filed against company, Kolkata inspectors

A major safety lapse with potential risk to public life has come to light in Moksi village of Savli taluka in Vadodara district, where a company was allegedly manufacturing substandard vessels (tankers) used for transporting LPG and other petroleum gases.

Following the exposure of the network, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has finally registered a police complaint against the company as well as two inspectors from a Kolkata-based certification agency.

According to the complaint filed by Joint Chief Controller Ashok Kumar from the Controller of Explosives office in Vadodara’s Vadsar area, the department is responsible for ensuring compliance under the Petroleum Act and Explosives Act. In May 2024, PESO headquarters in Nagpur received an email complaint alleging irregularities in the manufacturing of mobile pressure vessels.

Acting on the complaint, an inspection was carried out in January 2025 by officials along with a third-party investigation agency. It was found that Shridhar Industries, located on Sankarda-Bhadarva Road near Moksi village, had been manufacturing LPG tankers despite serious violations, and had even received licences issued under PESO approval.

During the probe, critical defects were detected in the construction of the tankers. The thickness of the tanks was found to be less than the mandated 18 mm, measuring below 16.92 mm in several cases. Further scrutiny of certification documents revealed that false information had been recorded by M/s Industrial Management Council, a Kolkata-based agency.

Officials stated that such gross negligence could have led to severe accidents, endangering human lives and property. Despite being responsible for monitoring each stage of vessel manufacturing, the company allegedly bypassed safety norms and furnished misleading details. The inspectors identified as A Bhattacharya and J Choudhary are accused of issuing certificates despite these violations.

Based on these findings, a formal police complaint has been registered against the company and the two inspectors, and further investigation is underway.