Factory owner taps into pipeline, pilfers gas worth 43.8L over 3 years
Gujarat Gas Ltd enforcement officials raided the unit along with Udhna police and found that the businessman, Vishal Patel, had been stealing gas for three years. Udhna police booked him for theft under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under the Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act.
According to the FIR filed by Gujarat Gas Ltd (GGL) deputy manager Prashant Vyas, his company distributes gas in Surat and other parts of the country.
It supplies gas for domestic, commercial and industrial use. Vishal Patel had a commercial gas supply agreement with GGL in 2007, for supply to his industrial unit in Bhathena.
As Patel was found to be stealing gas, his connection severed on Oct 14, 2022. On Aug 5, 2025, GGL officials received information that Patel was using gas after illegally puncturing the GGL pipeline. When officials tried to verify this, they found that Patel may have concealed the line underground.
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On Aug 11, engineers, technicians, welders and officials went to the unit in Bhathena and started digging near the GGL pipeline.
They found an illegal underground pipeline going to Patel's unit.
GGL officials then, in the presence of Udhna police, checked Patel's factory premises and found him to be using gas illegally.
The illegal connection had been made by cutting into the main pipeline, putting people's lives in danger.
They way it had been made indicated that people with technical expertise were also involved.
Officials found that Patel had been pilfering gas since 2022, with the value of gas stolen being Rs 43.8 lakh. An FIR was filed by Udhna police against Vishal Patel and the others involved in cutting into the gas supply line.
Udhna police inspector S N Desai told TOI: "We have detained Patel in connection with the case. Our preliminary investigation revealed the involvement of the person responsible for gas meter readings. He had offered Patel an illegal connection in exchange for money. Patel agreed, after which two individuals punctured the line to provide him with the illegal supply."
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