DNA -- Seven Maharashtra chief ministers sat on action plan against oil mafia

IAS officer Leena Mehendale had filed a detailed report on fuel adulteration in 1995-96.
Seven Maharashtra chief ministers sat on action plan against oil mafia
Published: Friday, Jan 28, 2011, 2:17 IST | Updated: Friday, Jan 28, 2011, 2:16 IST
By Santosh Andhale | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

On paper, it was the oil mafia active in North Maharashtra that killed Malegaon’s additional collector Yashwant Sonawane.

In reality, it was the government’s failure to crack down on the mafia despite repeated warnings that is to blame for the officer’s death.

IAS officer Leena Mehendale had filed a detailed report on fuel adulteration in the state as far back as 1995-96. She was the Nashik divisional commissioner at the time. Manmad and Malegaon are part of the Nashik division.

The state government, however, did not act on the report. Probable reason: she had named some powerful politicians who were protecting the racket.

“I can’t name them now,” said Mehendale, who retired from service last year as additional chief secretary of Maharashtra. “But everybody knows who I am talking about.”

Local people were less cagey. Some of them said the leader in question was a former minister from Dhule who owns several petrol pumps and kerosene agencies in the region.

“My additional collector filed a monthly report on fuel adulteration in the state, which made me dig deeper,” recalled Mehendale. “I deputed more people and sought two years’ audit of fuel consumption. I was shocked to see that hardly any records were being kept by the kerosene and petrol dealers, thus allowing the adulteration racket to thrive.

“I made a detailed report and suggested that petrol and kerosene agencies should not be awarded to the same individual since that makes the adulterators’ task easier. I had also suggested recovery of dues from all agencies where documents were not in order.”

More than 15 years and seven chief ministers later,
the changes suggested by Mehendale have not been implemented.

“It was really disappointing to see the report being ignored,” said Mehendale. “Much later, in 2008-09, I also discussed the issue with the then law secretary of Maharashtra, seeking an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code. I had suggested that rationing inspectors should get the right to file cases in court.”

Currently, rationing inspectors are supposed to inform the police about adulteration cases and the latter are supposed to take action. “But the police take their own time,” Mehendale said. “The state cabinet endorsed my suggestion and sent the note to the Centre. Thereafter I don’t know what happened.”

Mehendale rued Sonawane’s death and said the police must get to the root of the case. “It is not enough to arrest those who set him on fire,” she said. “They must catch the big fish. All government officers cannot be given protection, but the least the police can do is take exemplary action against those involved in the racket and send a strong message.”