CUTTACK: The State Vigilance on Monday registered a case against Pradhan Gas Services, owned by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s brother Soumendra Kumar Pradhan, basing on irregularities detected during the raid on Saturday.
Briefing mediapersons here on Monday, Vigilance Director Dr RP Sharma said shortage of 40 LPG cylinders was detected in the godown of the agency located at Handidhua at Talcher in Angul district. It was confirmed while stock position of the HP Gas Agency was verified during a joint inspection conducted by officials of Vigilance, Civil Supply and Legal Metrology Department.
Further inquiry revealed that the cylinders, issued in the name of different consumers of Pradhan Gas Services by creating fake documents, were unauthorisedly sold to one Debaraj Panda of Talcher.
Later, when the joint inspection team searched Panda’s godown, 83 LPG cylinders of different companies including the above 40 HP gas cylinders were found, Sharma said.
“Basing on prima facie evidence of illegalities, a criminal case has been registered in Cuttack Vigilance police station against proprietor of Pradhan Gas Services, Soumendra Kumar Pradhan, manager Rashmikanta Mahapatra, godown in-charge Nilu Sahu and vender Debaraj Panda of South Balanda under Bikrampur police station in Angul,” Sharma said.
The Vigilance Director said basing on the complaint, joint raids were conducted on three gas agencies in Balasore, Bhadrak and Keonjhar districts on December 31, 2016 while 17 gas agencies and filling stations were inspected in 13 districts on January 14. However, irregularities have been detected in 18 gas agencies and filling stations.
“Verification of LPG stocks and scrutiny of documents were also undertaken at 10 different gas agencies on Monday,” Sharma said.
Meanwhile, Soumendra has moved Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail.