IMPHAL, May 29: The three arrested persons allegedly involved in the petrol adulteration racket at Khurkhukul Makha Leikai have been produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Imphal West, Y Lothar today and sent to jail.
The accused namely H Sagar and Kh Hemchandra, both landowners of the twin locations where the clandestine operations were taking place and driver of the transport truck, Narayan Sharma has been booked under FIR case no 55(5)2012 and FIR no 56(5) of 2012 Sekmai Police Station under section 6/7 of the Essential Commodities Act,1955 respectively.
The accused persons have been further remanded to judicial custody and the next bail hearing has been fixed on June 7 by the JMIC/Imphal West.
Government counsel Rk Yaibi in the court stated that the clandestine operations has been carried out since a decade back and the landowners have been paid Rs 6000 per month. Hence the accused should be awarded befitting judgment as per the law, he prayed.
Defense counsel, advocate Basanta on behalf of the accused stated that the kerosene stock has been allocated for Kangpokpi area to a dealer namely one Chongjahoi.He mentioned that the Extension Point of Kangpokpi also caters to Leimakhong area, where kerosene distribution is carried out.
He prayed that despite the clandestine operations, the two landowners are not connected to the criminal syndicate in any manner and are just getting the rent. However, the agreement made was verbal and not in written.
The plea however was not entertained by the magistrate and later passed a directive for the accused trio remanding to judicial custody.
In accordance to the case, the concerned investigating officer had sought approval for disposal of the seized 34 KL of kerosene from the magistrate by conducting public sales. The request was denied as confiscated items by the police have a disposal time post six months and the product was seized on May 24.
The plea was denied on the ground and further that it was a government controlled item. According to sources, the oil has been denied re-storage by the IOC as it has already been sanctioned for distribution.
It was also learnt that the police are after eight persons who are also connected with the crime syndicate and presently at large.