Two held in Nagpur rural for stealing transformer oil; goods worth Rs 21.75 lakh seized

The Local Crime Branch has busted a gang that stole oil from Mahavitaran electricity transformers in Nagpur rural area. Two accused have been arrested and goods worth Rs 21.75 lakh seized from them.

The police investigation found that the stolen oil was sold to drivers of tankers passing along the highway.

The Local Crime Branch had already been conducting a parallel investigation into cases of oil theft from Mahavitaran transformers. During this, police received intelligence that a white MG Hector car was being used in the thefts.

Technical evidence had also surfaced during the probe of a case registered at Wadoda police station. On this basis, police began searching for the suspect vehicle. On Friday, police stopped the car, bearing registration number MH 05/EQ-9282, at Patankar Chowk in Nagpur. The action was led by Ankush Mane, police inspector in charge of the Local Crime Branch.

On searching the vehicle, police found Ramandasingh Amritsingh Randhawa (40) and Kamal Ramswaroop Sharma (55) inside. Both live in the Babadeep Nagar area of Nagpur. Police took both into custody and questioned them. According to police, they confessed during questioning to stealing oil from Mahavitaran transformers. Both were later arrested.

The investigation also revealed that the thefts were committed within the limits of the Wadoda and Mauda police stations. The probe into transformer oil thefts in the rural area has now reached a crucial turn.

Questioning also revealed that the oil drained from the transformers was being sold to tanker drivers travelling on the highway. Police have also seized the cash received from these transactions.

Recovered from the accused were an MG Hector car worth Rs 20 lakh, two Android mobile phones worth Rs 20,000, and Rs 1.55 lakh in cash received from selling the oil. The total value of the seized goods comes to Rs 21.75 lakh. Police said the action has yielded important leads in the transformer oil theft cases.