LPG Hoarding Racket Busted in Delhi’s Mahipalpur, 74 Cylinders Seized, Three Arrested

New Delhi, March 22, 2026; Three men were arrested in southwest Delhi’s Mahipalpur for allegedly hoarding LPG cylinders and illegally supplying them at inflated prices, Delhi police said on Sunday.

The accused have been identified as Krishna, Dinesh Sahu, and Mithilesh, aged 33, 46, and 39 respectively, all originally from Bihar and residing in Delhi for several years.

According to police officials, a total of 74 LPG cylinders, including 70 domestic and four commercial cylinders, were seized during the raid conducted on Saturday along with a transport vehicle and gas refilling equipment.

Investigators said the accused were engaged in illegally storing LPG cylinders and supplying them without valid bills or licences, using unauthorised methods to transfer gas between cylinders to manipulate supply and maximise profit margins.

Officials added that the accused used metal pipes and makeshift equipment to transfer gas from filled cylinders into empty ones, posing serious safety risks and violating multiple regulatory norms.

During the search operation, police also recovered weighing scales and additional tools used in the illegal refilling process, further confirming the scale of the operation.

Authorities stated that the accused failed to produce any valid documentation for storage, transport, or distribution of LPG cylinders at the time of the raid.

A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Essential Commodities Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Vasant Kunj North police station, and further investigation is underway.

Police officials said the accused had been active in the illegal LPG supply network in the Mahipalpur area for nearly three years, catering to local demand through unregulated channels.

Investigators are now working to trace the wider supply chain and identify possible links to other illegal distribution networks operating in the region.