Tanker driver stealing petrol caught red-handed

by February 1, 2011 Governance

A Hindustan Petroleum petrol bunk owner in Banashankari caught a tanker driver who was had stolen fuel before delivering at the bunk. HP officials are investigating.

In what appears to be the tip of the iceberg, the owner of a HP (Hindustan Petroleum) petrol bunk in Banashankari caught the driver of a fuel tanker siphoning off 150-200 litres, valued at Rs 6000-7000. The incident happened on Tuesday, February 1st. 

The truck from which petrol was siphoned off by the driver. It has been stationed at the petrol bunk while investigations are going on. Pic: Navya P K

Mani Siddaiah, owner of Mahadeswara petrol bunk in Banashankari 3rd Stage, says that the truck driver has admitted to removing the petrol by opening the locks on top of the truck. The truck’s owner also alleges of petrol was being siphoned off over months.

Siddaiah, an IRS (Indian Revenue Service) officer, says he has been noticing the shortage in the supplied amount for the last 4-5 months. "When we measured the petrol in the underground sumps with dipstick, we found shortages but could not pinpoint it on anyone," he says. Many trucks supply petrol to the bunk; the truck owners’ contract is with HP and not with the dealer.

On Tuesday, the owners measured the petrol with a dipstick after it was filled. "The measurement showed that the sump was full. When we measured again after removing 35 litres from the sump, the measurement still indicated that sump was full. After repeated measurements by removing different amounts of petrol, we concluded that some mechanism was set up to show the same measurements despite the amount of petrol in the sump," Siddaiah says. The quantity in the diesel sumps, supplied by the same truck, was found to be accurate on measurement.

Though the driver admitted to siphoning off around 110 litres of petrol, Siddaiah says this could be around 200 litres. "The driver said that those involved in the scam had a master key to open the locks on all trucks. The driver ran away in between, but was brought back by the truck owner," Siddaiah says.

HP has been informed of the issue and is investigating the case. Since the contract for the trucks was given by HP, further procedures will be initiated by the company after establishing the theft; the bunk owner has not pressed any charges against the truck owner with the police. ⊕

Sections:

About Navya P K

Navya PK is a freelance journalist based in Kerala. She covers stories on environment, health and human rights. She has previously worked with Citizen Matters, Deccan Herald and The New Indian Express.
Read more by Navya P K

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

From flood control to potable water, will the Mamallan dam truly deliver on promises?

by May 4, 2026 Governance
Slated to solve Chennai’s water crisis, the Mamallan reservoir project may deepen existing issues, causing flooding and increased salinity.

Mohana S recalls how Kanima Nagar in Periya Nemmeli, Chengalpattu, was bountiful just 20 years ago, filled with trees, paddy crops, and rabbits. Picking brackish‑water prawns from the Great Salt Lake, a five‑minute walk away, provided income for her hamlet of about 36 Irular families. Today, this area, around 40 km from Chennai, has become dry land with weeds, prone to floods every northeastern monsoon. Residents report a drop in catch and link the changing landscape to urbanisation in Chennai, groundwater depletion, flooding, and erosion along the Kovalam coast. “When it rains, we in Kanima Nagar suffer in the floods.…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Information for voters in Perambur constituency

by and April 21, 2026 Governance
Voters in Perambur, find details about your incumbent MLA, past constituency voting patterns, and candidates this year.

Table of contentsPolitical RepresentationCandidates for 2026 pollsTop candidates2021 Polling SnapshotPrevious Results 2021Previous Results 2016Incumbent MLA:  R.D ShekarMLA profileCriminal records:MLA in the mediaKey citizen demandsAlso read Perambur is constituency number 12 in Chennai, located in the northern part of the city, and falls under the Chennai North Lok Sabha constituency. One of the largest railway coach manufacturing facilities in Asia, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), is located in Perambur. It was established in 1955, employing thousands of workers and engineers. Key areas include the ICF colony, Perambur Barracks Road, Peravallur, Kosapet, and Kannigapuram. As per the 2011 census, the constituency has…

Continue reading