The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered several cases pertaining to the pilferage and adulteration of petroleum products, PDS kerosene and spurious drugs during a week-long nationwide special drive.
The agency carried out 85 joint surprise checks in coordination with oil companies and has so far registered 11 cases regarding adulteration of petroleum products.
The CBI's Delhi anti-corruption branch has registered five cases against a Meerut-based firm and four Jhajjar-based firms in connection with the diversion of naphtha, pentane, special boiling point solvent and other petroleum products.
These firms bought naphtha, pentane and other petroleum solvents from Kandla port in Gujarat and various units of GAIL for further distillation and sale in the market as per the licence conditions. However, it is alleged that they diverted over 78.45 lakh litres of naphtha and 3,371 metric tonnes of pentane.
Delhi's economic offences unit has registered four cases against three private persons and others on charges of adulteration of petroleum products in different parts of the Capital.
In Chennai, the CBI arrested four persons allegedly involved in the pilferage, adulteration and sale of petroleum products. Another case has been registered in Thiruvananthapuram against a shop owner and unknown oil company officials for pilferage of motor spirit and high-speed diesel oil and its unauthorised possession and sale without valid documents.
Spurious drugs
In the drive against spurious drugs, the CBI, along with the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation, carried out 62 surprise checks across the country. Six cases have been registered in Delhi, Nagpur and Chennai.
During the checks, it was discovered that spurious and expired medicines were being supplied to the Central government Health Scheme and other government hospitals. At many places, spurious medicines, particularly Ayurvedic drugs, were being manufactured without a proper licence.
The CBI has registered a case against a resident of Motia Khan in Delhi and others for allegedly manufacturing Ayurvedic oil without a licence. In another case, a Himachal Pradesh-based unit was illegally manufacturing a medicine being supplied to various places through a Delhi-based firm.
The CBI has also booked a Punjab-based herbal pharmacy, a Nagpur-based Ayurvedic company and unknown public servants for allegedly conspiring to cheat the public by selling adulterated and spurious medicines.
