Arrest warrant against 16 tanker owners

BHAIRAHAWA, MAY 03 -

Rupandehi Police on Friday issued arrest warrant against 16 tanker owners who are accused of stealing petroleum products imported by the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).

Those accused include a central executive committee member of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and three from Paschimanchal Tanker Entrepreneurs Association.

Earlier, a joint team of National Vigilance Centre and Rupandehi Police had raided two petrol pumps and two godowns in Padsari and Madauliya where they found 19 tankers taking out diesel deceitfully. The consignments that were imported from Sunauli border were bound for Valwari Depot. The police confiscated 17,000 letres of diesel.

Superintendent of Police Bikram Singh Thapa said they issued the arrest warrant based on the details given by the drivers and their helpers. “We rendered the warrant against the tanker owners too after their involvement was found in the case,” he said.

Those accused are Chop Narayan Shrestha, Hari Bahadur Kunwar, Rakesh Kumar Kashaudhan, Balkrishna Gaire, Prem Raj Gaire, Pashupatinath Kashaudhan, Daya Shankar Prasad Kashaudhan, Lappu Chaudhary, Bikash Chhetri, Binod Upreti, Ram Chandra Adhikari, Shrawan Kumar Shrestha, Rudra Sharma, Priti Jaiswal, Pinky Kalwar Jaiswal and Pappu Kumar Kashaudhan, according to the police.

Among the accused, Chop Narayan is associated with the FNCCI, while Hari Bahadur, Rakesh Kumar and Balkrishna are associated with Pashchimanchal Tankers Entrepreneurs Association. The NOC has said it has terminated agreements with the tankers and has formed an investigation committee to look into the matter. NOC Spokesperson Mukunda Ghimire said the three member committee led by Bishal Ojha had been sent to the site for investigation.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has started an investigation into NOC officials suspecting their involvement in the case.

Source: The Kathmandu Post