Bhubaneswar: The city police have uncovered a new form of fraud involving liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections, drawing parallels to the use of mule bank accounts in cybercrime. The racket surfaced amid supply disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict.Police said a middleman, identified as Manoj Kumar Sahoo, who is in his 40s and is under arrest now, allegedly masterminded the creation of multiple fake LPG connections using identities of unsuspecting persons. Most of the “consumers” were slum-dwellers and poor families who did not use gas cylinders but were lured with regular commissions. “We have seized 19 domestic cylinders, including some filled ones, from the accused. Sahoo’s interrogation is underway to identify other members of the gang,” an officer at Chandrasekharpur police station said.
Police said the accused, who previously worked at a gas agency, collected gas books of the consumers in bulk and operated them by taking the beneficiaries into confidence.Each consumer was reportedly paid Rs 500 per cylinder booked in their name. The cylinders were then diverted to the black market and resold at inflated prices. “This is similar to how mule accounts are used in cybercrime. Here, identities were misused to create a chain of fraudulent LPG connections,” the officer added.Officials added the accused submitted genuine documents to authorised suppliers to register multiple connections, ensuring a steady supply of cylinders for illegal trade.Sources said black market demand surged as the conflict affected supply. “This is not just financial fraud but also a matter of public safety. Diverting LPG cylinders to unauthorised channels poses serious risks,” the officer said.Police said the racket thrived by offering small but consistent payments to consumers. While beneficiaries were let off with a stern warning due to their economic vulnerability, police cautioned that repeat offenders would face arrest.“We want to send a clear message that such practices will not be tolerated,” the officer said.The investigation is ongoing, with police coordinating with gas agencies to assess the scale of the fraud and strengthen verification processes. Officials stressed that the bust underscores the urgent need for tighter checks in essential service sectors to prevent exploitation.
