Aviation Fuel Theft Busted by Delhi Police; Estimated Monthly Loss ₹1.62 Crore

In a significant development, Delhi Police exposed an organised aviation fuel theft racket that reportedly caused a monthly loss of ₹1.62 crore to the national exchequer. 8 individuals have been arrested after a raid conducted in Mundka village.

Police Raid Uncovers Illegal Fuel Diversion

On June 23, 2025, following months of surveillance and a specific tip-off, a raid led by Inspector Mahipal Singh was conducted at a godown in Delhi’s Mundka village. The effort yielded the recovery of 72,000 litres of stolen aviation turbine fuel (ATF).

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Aditya Gautam, confirmed the seizure of 3 oil tankers, each carrying 24,000 litres of ATF. Additionally, officials confiscated two pickup trucks intended for further distribution, hundreds of barrels filled with stolen fuel, forged dip rods, duplicate tanker keys, and ₹1.05 lakh in cash.

ATF Rerouted En Route to IGI Airport

Investigators uncovered that the gang operated for at least three years, regularly rerouting tankers transporting ATF from HPCL’s Asoda Depot in Bahadurgarh to the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The drivers, in collusion with transporters and the Mundka godown operator, manipulated GPS systems to divert vehicles into illegal storage facilities.

As per official findings, tanker locks designed to be opened only at the airport were breached using duplicate master keys. Forged dip rods were used to simulate accurate delivery measurements, fooling monitoring personnel.

Open Market Resale as Mineral Turpentine Oil

Once removed from the tankers, ATF was transferred into barrels and subsequently loaded onto trucks for resale. The fuel was mislabelled as mineral turpentine oil (MTO), a product widely used in the paint and ink industries.

The stolen ATF was sold at ₹43 to ₹50 per litre in various districts, including Rewari and Sonipat in Haryana, Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, and even as far as Gwalior and parts of Maharashtra.

8 Arrested Including Mastermind and Tanker Owner

The identified mastermind, Gaya Prasad Yadav, aged 43, owned the Mundka godown and facilitated the resale operations. He sold ATF at ₹50 per litre, reaping substantial profits from the illegal trade.

Rajkumar Choudhary emerged as a key buyer, sourcing the fuel at discounted rates before reselling it to manufacturers in need of MTO. Also arrested was Ashpal Singh Bhullar, owner of the implicated tankers, along with 3 drivers, Ram Bharose, Anjay Roy, and Subodh Kumar Yadav. Each driver reportedly received ₹700 to ₹800 per trip. Two assisting helpers have been detained as well.

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Scope of the Theft: Over 5,000 Litres Per Day

DCP Gautam noted that the operation involved siphoning off more than 5,000 litres of ATF daily. Over 3 years, it is estimated that up to 1,50,000 litres were stolen every month, resulting in substantial financial and safety implications, as per news reports.

During the raid, police recovered forged and genuine dip rods, master keys, barrel drums, and tanker locks, evidence of a highly coordinated and technologically aware criminal network.

HPCL Takes Charge of Recovered Fuel

Following proper documentation and safety measures, the seized ATF and oil tankers have been handed back to Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). The petroleum major is conducting further inspection and assessment of the damage caused by the diversion.

Conclusion

The unravelling of the aviation fuel theft gang in Delhi sheds light on the alarming scale and sophistication of fuel diversion operations in India. Operating undetected for 3 years, the gang caused losses of ₹1.62 crore monthly while compromising national aviation safety and economic integrity. 

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