Raigarh: Jootmil police in Raigarh district have uncovered a gang involved in stealing diesel from heavy vehicles parked along highways, officers said on 13 August 2026.
Police arrested two key members of the gang and identified the main accused following an investigation into an abandoned vehicle. The investigation began on 3 February 2026 after a white Mahindra Scorpio overturned along National Highway-49 in front of an HP petrol pump at Amlibhauna.
The occupants fled the scene. During a search of the vehicle, police seized a plastic jerrycan containing 10 litres of diesel, a two-metre plastic pipe, an iron crowbar, two mobile phones and fake number plates.
Police discovered that the registration number displayed on the vehicle, CG-04-BT-0664, was forged and had no record in the Transport Department registry.
Further investigation using the chassis and engine numbers revealed that the original registration number was CG-12-BT-6416, registered under the name of Madhur Nirmalkar, a resident of Tulsinagar in Korba district.
The vehicle owner told police that he had rented the SUV for ₹45,000 per month to Purushottam Yadav of Janjgir-Champa on 30 December 2025.
Interrogation of the suspects revealed that gang members replaced the original number plate with a fake registration number on the instructions of Purushottam Yadav.
On the night of the incident, the gang allegedly attempted to siphon diesel from a parked trailer along the highway. When the trailer driver woke up and raised an alarm, the suspects fled in the SUV. They lost control and overturned the vehicle on NH-49, before escaping on foot.
Police arrested Sunil Kumar Kewat (30), a resident of Khamhariya in Korba district, and Sandeep Kumar Dahariya (34), a resident of Birgahni in Janjgir-Champa district.
A local court remanded both suspects to judicial custody on 12 August 2026.
The main accused, Purushottam Yadav (48), is currently lodged in Bilaspur Central Jail in connection with multiple offences. Jootmil police have obtained a production warrant to interrogate him in Raigarh.
Police are also searching for two absconding gang members — Shiv Kumar Rajak and Kuldeep Sandey.
Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Essential Commodities Act.
Senior Superintendent of Police Shashi Mohan Singh said police are closely monitoring highway theft networks and that strict legal action will be taken against all individuals involved in such offences.
