New Delhi: The Anti-Extortion & Kidnapping Cell (AEKC) of the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has dismantled a significant illegal hoarding and storage operation of LPG cylinders in the Mundka area of Outer Delhi. The operation led to the recovery of 610 cylinders, which were being stored in violation of safety norms and government regulations.
Acting on specific intelligence, a team from AEKC, led by Inspector Amit Solanki and supervised by ACP Pankaj Arora, conducted a raid at Guruji Indane Gas Service located at Khasra No. 111/22 & 111, Plot No. 9, Mundka. Upon inspection, the team discovered that commercial LPG cylinders from various companies, including Indane, Bharat Gas, and HP Gas, were illegally stored together in the godown, contravening the LPG (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
🚨🔥 CRIME BRANCH CRACKDOWN | 610 ILLEGAL LPG CYLINDERS SEIZED 🔥🚨
— Crime Branch Delhi Police (@CrimeBranchDP) March 16, 2026
👮♂️ In a major enforcement action, AEKC, Crime Branch – Delhi Police busted an illegal LPG cylinder hoarding racket operating from a godown in Mundka, Outer Delhi.
📦 Recovery Highlights:
🔹 610 LPG Cylinders… pic.twitter.com/Z09aE3Mlbp
Preliminary investigations revealed that Guruji Indane Gas Service is an authorized distributor solely for Indane commercial LPG cylinders. However, the presence of cylinders from other companies indicated a breach of licensing conditions. The police recovered a total of 610 LPG cylinders, comprising both filled and empty units, along with 26 LOTs of Indane cylinders.
The breakdown of the recovered cylinders is as follows:
– Indane: 423 cylinders (133 filled, 290 empty)
– Bharat Gas: 92 cylinders (17 filled, 75 empty)
– HP Gas: 95 cylinders (47 filled, 27 empty, 21 empty)
Further inquiries revealed discrepancies in stock records, with officials from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) stating that the distributor’s stock of Indane commercial cylinders should have been nil as of March 10, 2025. However, 133 filled Indane cylinders were found on-site, suggesting potential irregularities in stock management and unauthorized storage.
It is suspected that such illegal hoarding is often conducted during supply constraints, with the hoarded cylinders sold at inflated prices through black marketing, thereby exploiting consumers and commercial users. These activities not only disrupt the regulated LPG distribution system but also pose significant safety risks due to improper storage of highly flammable LPG cylinders.
The raid was conducted in the presence of FSO Vikas Kumar from the Food Supply and Consumers Affairs Department, who confirmed the illegality of storing LPG cylinders from other companies at an Indane distributorship.
In response to the findings, FIR No. 52/2026 has been registered at the Crime Branch police station under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for illegal storage and suspected black marketing activities. The owner of the premises was absent during the raid and is currently evading arrest. Efforts are underway to locate and apprehend them, while further investigations are ongoing to uncover the complete supply chain and any additional involvement in these illegal activities.
