Hyderabad: In a major crackdown, police have busted a covert illegal LPG trade operating out of a graveyard in Banjara Hills, arresting 10 persons and seizing cylinders worth over Rs 21.8 lakh.Acting on specific intelligence, sleuths of the task force (Jubilee Hills zone) along with Banjara Hills police conducted a raid on Sunday at a graveyard near Nagarjuna X Road. The operation uncovered a clandestine storage and distribution network where commercial LPG cylinders were stockpiled and sold at steeply inflated prices across the city. In all, 414 cylinders — both filled and empty — were seized, along with vehicles used for transport. The arrested include Mohammed Aamir (42), identified as the main accused and gas supplier, along with Mohammed Yousuf, Mohammed Ismail, A Rama Rao, Lok Kumar, Mohammed Sakruddin, Mohammed Muntaz Ansari, Mohammed Minaj Ansari, Rajesh Pal and Ram Raj Singh. They played roles ranging from drivers and delivery personnel to labourers and facilitators. Investigators said Aamir ran a licensed outlet, Metro gas agency, with a godown in Mamidipalle, Shamshabad, and an office in Afzalgunj. Despite holding a valid licence issued in Oct 2023, he allegedly diverted commercial LPG cylinders for illegal sale. The cylinders were transported and stored at the graveyard with the help of labourers, in violation of safety and regulatory norms. The modus operandi involved procuring bulk cylinders using false claims. Ch Yadender, task force inspector, told TOI that Aamir would allegedly convince restaurant owners to give written requests claiming they were running hostels or orphanages to justify bulk purchases. These cylinders, ranging from 5 kg to 47 kg, were then diverted and sold to eateries and other buyers at inflated prices. The price mark-up was steep. A 19 kg cylinder, usually priced around ₹2,000, was sold for up to ₹6,000. A 47 kg cylinder costing about ₹4,000 was sold for ₹8,000 or more depending on demand. Even 5 kg cylinders priced at ₹500 were sold for as much as ₹2,000. Officials said the racket had been running for nearly one and a half years. Police also found that Ram Singh, caretaker of a nearby temple, was allegedly paid ₹5,000 a month to allow storage of cylinders in the graveyard. The site served as a discreet hub, helping the accused avoid detection while supplying to customers. The seizure included 30 filled 47 kg cylinders, 148 filled 19 kg cylinders, 192 empty 19 kg cylinders, 35 filled 5 kg cylinders and 9 empty 5 kg cylinders, besides multiple transport vehicles. Yadender said the entire stock comprised commercial cylinders and the operation not only violated licensing rules but also posed serious safety risks due to unsafe storage in a public area. Further investigation is on to identify others involved and examine gaps in monitoring and distribution systems.
