Sambalpur: Seven persons, including a petrol pump owner, were arrested for allegedly stealing diesel worth around Rs 26 lakh from the oil pipeline of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) in Odisha’s Sambalpur district.
The accused persons had stolen diesel from IOCL’s Sambalpur-Jatni pipeline from Hatibari under the jurisdiction of Jujumura police station in the district.
Police said the petrol pump owner is a resident of Kalahandi district, while four others are from Sambalpur and two from Bargarh district.
An oil tanker tanker, car and a generator used in the theft have been seized, they said, adding that a bank account of the arrested accused has also been frozen.
According to Sambalpur Superintendent of Police B Gangadhar, the accused had stolen around 8,500 litres of diesel from the pipeline that passed through Hathibari forest.
After IOCL authorities found that the diesel was being stolen somewhere, they lodged a complaint with the Jujumara police station following which police launched an investigation.
Investigation is in progress to ascertain whether other people are also involved in the crime.
