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Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil said here on Friday that while there were limits placed on the role the police could play in cracking down on the oil mafia, they were given explicit instructions to take strict action against the perpetrators after the horrific killing of the Nashik Additional Collector, Yashwant Sonawane, last month.
Mr. Patil's reaction was in response to Maharashtra Director-General of Police D. Sivanandan's comment that the State had prevented the police from taking action against the oil mafia.
“It's true the police have to face certain obstacles in conducting raids. But since mafia elements [had gone] to the extent of burning an official, we gave clear directions to the police to crack down on these elements. Raids have been going on,” he said.
Mr. Sivanandan had referred to a government resolution (GR), of 2005, which clipped the wings of the force.
Clarification
However, the Food and Civil Supplies Department said on Friday that Mr. Sivanandan was talking of a notification dated March 8, 2004. This notification stated: “Before conducting raids on petrol or diesel stations, the police should take along a class-I or class-II officer from the Supplies department. No police officer should conduct the inspection or raid alone.”
It asks the police to adhere to certain “conditions” while “using their powers.” The conditions included taking officials from the Supplies and Revenue Department for raids and having an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and above for investigations.
A department official said the 2008 notification referred to an earlier letter, making the same stipulations. He said the notification was only in respect of the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices), Order 2005, issued by the Centre. The police's powers were “deleted” but later restored, the official said. Mr. Patil said there were separate GRs for kerosene and sand.
Mr. Patil's reaction was in response to Maharashtra Director-General of Police D. Sivanandan's comment that the State had prevented the police from taking action against the oil mafia.
“It's true the police have to face certain obstacles in conducting raids. But since mafia elements [had gone] to the extent of burning an official, we gave clear directions to the police to crack down on these elements. Raids have been going on,” he said.
Mr. Sivanandan had referred to a government resolution (GR), of 2005, which clipped the wings of the force.
Clarification
However, the Food and Civil Supplies Department said on Friday that Mr. Sivanandan was talking of a notification dated March 8, 2004. This notification stated: “Before conducting raids on petrol or diesel stations, the police should take along a class-I or class-II officer from the Supplies department. No police officer should conduct the inspection or raid alone.”
It asks the police to adhere to certain “conditions” while “using their powers.” The conditions included taking officials from the Supplies and Revenue Department for raids and having an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and above for investigations.
A department official said the 2008 notification referred to an earlier letter, making the same stipulations. He said the notification was only in respect of the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices), Order 2005, issued by the Centre. The police's powers were “deleted” but later restored, the official said. Mr. Patil said there were separate GRs for kerosene and sand.