SM Fasiullah for BeyondHeadlines
Major oil companies in Pune are now under scanner of Crime Branch for overcharging customers on petrol and diesel at their retail outlets in an area in the city.
BeyondHeadlines first reported on the matter on September 25 (link) that the oil firms are overcharging on purchase of petrol and diesel in Pune Cantonment Area, where no Local Body Tax (LBT) is levied.
INSAAN Foundation took up the matter with Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Minister for Food & Civil Supplies and Govt. of Maharashtra through a complaint. After over three months, the case is being probed by Crime Branch of Pune.
INSAAN Foundation President Afroz Alam Sahil confirmed that the case is being probed by officials of the Pune Crime Branch. He also told that he received a call from the crime branch official appreciating him for bringing up this issue.
While on a visit to Pune, Mr. Sahil bought petrol in the cantonment area and checked the bills, and found that petrol price in both corporation area and cantonment area is same. Later he investigated into the matter to reach a conclusion that customers are overcharged on their purchase.
Then he filed a complaint in September with the relevant authorities and requested the police to register cases amounting to extortion and also under Essential Commodities Act for indulging in overcharging of customers.
