Man arrested for stealing pipelines from Trichy UGD project
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The accused, identified as M Vasudevan from Keezha Panjapur, was found in possession of around 100 kg of high-grade pipelines, valued at approximately ₹1 lakh.
According to a complaint filed by Elangovan, project in-charge for the contracting firm implementing the UGD network, the thefts occurred near the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Panjapur. Since the new network has not yet been commissioned, the pipes remained exposed at various installation sites—making them vulnerable to theft.
Police investigations revealed that Vasudevan had been systematically digging up and stealing the pipes since September 2024, intending to sell them to scrap dealers. He was caught red-handed while transporting the stolen materials.
"We recovered about 100 kg of UGD pipelines stocked at different locations," an investigating officer said. The accused was remanded in judicial custody on Saturday.
Police have stepped up surveillance in project areas, especially those where the UGD system is still under construction, to prevent further incidents.
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