LPG crisis | 18 nabbed, cases lodged against 23 for Maha black marketing

He said the state government has decided to provide kerosene and coal as an alternate fuel to the consumers.

A child sits over an empty LPG cooking gas cylinder, as people arrive to avail refilled ones, amid a shortage linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict affecting the global energy supply chain, in Prayagraj, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Photo | PTI

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Police have arrested 18 people and registered cases against 23 people for black marketing the LPG cylinders in the state.

Civil Supply Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that the state government and its constituted committees at the district level are closely monitoring the development and ensuring the smooth supply of cooking gas cylinders in the state.

He said that there are reports of a black market in the cylinders. “We have started the help line where people can register their complaints against the black marketing of the cylinders. The rapid action forces are also constituted, and in the raid, the state police registered cases against the 23 people, while 18 were arrested for black marketing the LPG cylinders,” Bhujbal said.

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He also said the state government has asked the oil companies like BPCL, HPCL and IOCL to optimise their daily production of cooking gas from 9,000 tonnes to 11,000 tonnes so that domestic consumers will not face LPG shortage.

He said their priority is to provide the gas cylinders to the domestic consumer, educational institutions, hospitals and old-age homes.

He said the state government has decided to provide kerosene and coal as an alternate fuel to the consumers.

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Maharashtra government said that its top priority is to provide LPG gas cylinders to the domestic consumer, educational institutions, hospitals and old-age homes.