SC-ADULTERATION 2 LAST

The bench was further told that IIM graduate and Indian The bench was further told that IIM graduate and IndianOil Corporation (IOC) officer S Manjunath, who tried to stopsuch practice, was gunned down by a petrol pump owner inLucknow some years ago and similarly, a government officer inNashik in Maharashtra was burnt alive. The bench said "there is a deep-rooted and seriousproblem" and asked Solicitor General to come out with asolutions, preferring technological ideas. While ordering the probe, the bench said the licensingauthorities for petrol pumps and district administration willhave to provide full assistance and cooperation to the enquiryofficer. Upadhyay, wife of senior and influential BSP leaderRamveer Upadhyay, claimed that there was a need for thoroughprobe by the CBI into business activities of Agarwal. The MLA’s counsel Rakesh Dwivedi refuted all allegations. During the hearing, the bench was told that a questionwas asked in Lok Sabha earlier this month and it was revealedthat there were 3801 cases of adulteration from petrol pumpswith UP having the most – 672 – followed by 364 in MadhyaPradesh in the last three years. While elaborating how the "oil mafia" worked, thepetition alleged that subsidised kerosene, meant for personsresiding in rural areas or below poverty line, has been longused for adulterating diesel and petrol, thus damaging boththose for whom the oil is meant and those whose vehicles orengines are fatally damaged by the adulterated fuel. "The resultant profit going into the pockets of fueladulterators/black marketeers/mafias, is mind-boggling askerosene oil is sold by oil refineries or their depots to thewholesalers at Rs 14-15 per litre enabling the retailersto earn 40-50 paise per litre," the plea said. It alleged that subsidised kerosene was sold by oilrefineries to wholesalers at Rs 14-15 per litre and furthersold to mafias and black marketeers at Rs 25 per litre. "Kerosene oil is chemically treated with a view todiscolouring the same and thereafter sold to petrol/dieseloutlets at Rs 33 to Rs 35 per litre, from where it is sold asdiesel at Rs 54 per litre and petrol at Rs 74 per litre," theplea said. PTI MNL ABA RKS AGARC