Centre for Racketeers

A huge racket involving adulteration of fuel was unearthed in Dimapur on the night of April 21,2022 by the Rising People’s Party (RPP) raising serious concerns not only over the racket but that despite the unearthing of another huge adulteration racket in 2016 by Against Corruption And Unabated Taxation(ACAUT) Nagaland, it’s business as usual. On the night of April 21, 2022 a team from RPP, acting on a tip-off, raided some locations in Dimapur and discovered that some persons had siphoned off around 4000 litres of kerosene from another stationary oil tanker of 18,000 litres capacity. According to the RPP, the kerosene siphoned off was to be mixed with some chemicals to remove the bluish colour and make it colourless in order to adulterated it with petrol. Even in 2016 ACAUT Nagaland alleged that some persons within the Food & Civil Supplies department were involved in the diversion of huge quantities of SKO . Even on the night of April 21, a spokesperson of the RPP alleged that of around 4,80,000 litres of SKO received by the state’s Food & Civil Supplies department as monthly quota, a huge portion was diverted by the racketeers for adulteration of petrol.The RPP spokesperson further claimed that all those involved in the racket unearthed on April 21 were the same accused persons who were involved in the 2016 racket.On its defence, an official of the IOC at Dimapur, clarified that the tankers found by the raiding party were parked in a workshop for some mechanical repair works. However, RPP countered that no sane person would drive in tankers fully loaded with oil where gas and electrical works are carried out. RPP also said the tankers found were also fully loaded with oil for shipment. RPP said the video recording taken during the raid also proved its allegations. In the 2016 raid across several mixing units, ACAUT Nagaland disclosed that the ingredients used to remove the bluish colour of the SKO were -“red-coloured chemical”, “red-coloured powder”, “acid/spirit.” If the claim that those involved in the 2016 adulteration racket were found to be still carrying out their nefarious business, is true then it raises serious questions about the entire system of policing. The alleged kingpin of adulterated oil being sold through some outlets is apparently at large after the 2016 racket was unearthed. Oil adulteration is not only about mixing adulterants to ‘produce’ more petrol but also about sales. This alone leads to conclusion that perhaps there is huge demand somewhere as it provided a win-win situation for all. According to ACAUT sources, the margin of profit in selling adulterated fuel is very tempting. In the April 21 adulteration racket, RPP has accused not only the F&CS department but also some within the IOC of being accomplices. Besides fuel adulteration, there have also been reports in the media about sale of expired items and also harmful substances found in food items. These point to a large scale racket of various items. The state government should take such reports seriously. At times reports in the media need to be verified and suo moto action taken. Adulteration is a big business and transcends even to banned alcohol which poses a very serious health hazard. The state government is obligated to probe every allegation about adulteration, extortion and syndication in order to prevent criminalisation of commerce.