Oil theft: Cops to apply MCOCA in 3 earlier cases

In a bid to deter gangs from oil smuggling, port zone officials plan to invoke stringent acts in past cases. Sources reveal that that police had already zeroed in on three cases where Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) would be applied.

This move a day after the port zone booked 11 people and arrested six for oil smuggling and charged them under MCOCA. The accused identified as Feroz Shanuwaz Shaikh, Salim Mamdani, Shamiullah Baig, Kiran Barsinghe and Hemant Nakwa are residents of Wadala and Dongri and were arrested by the Sewri police. Sources said the six more from the same gang are still absconding.

The smugglers had rigged a 1.5-inch diameter pipe at a supply system at Sewri, which was used to remove the base oil.

Y.N. Vhatkar, ACP, Sewri division, said that the police had decided to invoke MCOCA taking into consideration to certain facets in the case. “The gang stole over 10,000 litres of base oil and would transfer it in the middle of the night. They were doing this for the last nine months. This is a clear example of an organised crime done for pecuniary gain, which falls under the ambit of a crime as prescribed, by MCOCA. Hence we have decided to invoke that,” he said.

He said the senior officials wanted to bring down oil smuggling and were looking at all possible action.

“We are also going through past cases to see if any of them can have MCOCA invoked upon them,” he added.

Sources said the police has already selected three cases before 2015 where MCOCA would be applied. Officers will also look at the involvement of BPT officers in the current case. “In order to siphon off the oil, the gang drilled a hole in the supply pipe and from the outside fixed another pipe which would be used to draw out the oil,” said Mr Vhatkar.

Sources said continuing the illegal activity for nine months would not have been possible without inside help. “We are also looking at the involvement of many others,” he added.