Action against petrol pumps using electronic chips: DGP

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police on Friday ordered stern action against unscrupulous petrol pump retailers for using electronic chips in petrol pumps to tamper the quantity of fuel delivered to customers.

DGP Rajendra Prasad Sharma directed the district police officials to take appropriate action against these unscrupulous businessmen and prosecute them under sectors of Indian Penal Code and under Odisha Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1951 and any other relevant law.

DGP also asked to instruct their field functionaries under their control to take stock of intelligence inputs in the matter and register criminal cases against such offenders.

There have been frequent allegations by people on the adulteration of petrol pump products as well as manipulation in the petrol pump dispensing system by use of micro-chips / electronic device / remote sensors.

It is learnt from the intelligence source that some petrol pump retailers in connivance with some unscrupulous persons plant electronic gadgets to manipulate the calibration system of dispensing pump which amounts to forgery of electronic documents, said a release.

By forging such electronic systems, they used to cheat the customers regularly by way of collecting full price for the lesser quantity of commodity, it added.

In this regard, DGP has also emphasized on the proper co-ordination between the officers of Civil Supply and Legal Metrology (Weights & Measures) Departments for joint verification and retort of cases appropriately

DGP Sharma has further instructed to submit the result of such enforcement every month to CID, Crime Branch or through special reports.