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By Jaykishan Sharma: The crime branch of Rajasthan Police on Wednesday busted an organised racket involved in coal theft amounting to at least Rs 800 crore.
Dinesh M N, additional Director General of Police (Crime), said the gang used to replace high-calorific value coal imported from foreign countries with low quality charcoal.
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“High calorific value coal imported from Russia, Indonesia, the US and other foreign countries was imported to Kandla and Gandhidham ports in Gujarat. From there, trucks laden with high-calorific value coal used to reach private companies in other states through Jalore, Sirohi, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Barmer,” said the additional DGP.
“On the way, the accused, in connivance with the truck driver, stopped the vehicles at sheds constructed across the highway and replaced stock worth at least Rs 2 lakh with low-quality coal so that the weight would remain the same,” said Dinesh MN.
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The officer said that by mixing low-quality material, the quality of the entire stock of coal deteriorated.
“On an average, 150 trucks pass through the highways of these six districts. We have raided 13 locations. From each truck, they used to replace stock worth Rs 2 lakh meaning they made at least Rs 2 crore each day. This is the minimum stock we are suspecting they replaced. It could be more,” said the ADGP.
The crime branch has detained more than a dozen people and is also investigating who were the buyers of this high-quality coal. Investigation is underway.
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