In connection with the Chengicherla incident in which an oil tanker caught fire, the Rachakonda police today arrested tanker owners Kulal Raju and his brother Jagdeep of Bheemreddy Nagar, Boduppal, and seized three bikes, two cars, 12 petrol tankers and Rs 7.5 lakhs in cash.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Rachakonda Joint Commissioner of Police Tarun Joshi said that the accident was the first of its kind in south India. Producing the duo before the media, Joshi said that the culprits would pilfer 300-400 litres of oil from oil tankers each day and sell the same after mixing it with kerosene. The accused were running a workshop for this illegal business. Joshi stated that the fire broke out when the culprits were using a welding machine in the process of looting petrol.
The Joint Commissioner further said that the cops were investigating if any employees of oil companies had any links with such petrol thieves or with tanker owners. He also shared that they had identified another kerosene dump at the Ghatkesar area and that efforts were on to nab the suspects in that case - oil tanker owner Nayeem, and Khadir and Sharpuddin. Special teams had been pressed into action to nab the culprits, he said.
Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagavath ordered an inquiry into the role of the Medipally police in the entire episode.