Panaji: Two Karnataka Policemen Held for Smuggling out Petrol from Goa

Panaji, May 29 (PTI): Goa Police today arrested a sub-inspector and a constable of Karnataka Police for trying to smuggle out petrol and liquor from the coastal state in their official vehicle.

Police Sub Inspector Babu Madhav and driver Yallappa Madhav, both attached to Ramnagar police station, were found to be carrying petrol loaded in cans in their official jeep which was intercepted by a joint team of Goa police and Excise department at a border check-post, said police inspector Jivba Dalvi, attached to Collem police station, on Goa-Karnataka border.

With VAT on petrol at a mere 0.1 per cent, the fuel cost in the coastal state post recent hike is at Rs 62.50 per litre.

Goa government allows only 30 litres of petrol to be carried in cans, however, the arrested accused were found to be in possession of 70 litres of fuel filled in cans in their vehicle, police said.

The duo were also found to be in possession of whiskey bottles of various makes and did not have the mandatory license from the state excise department, they said.

They were booked under sections 285 of Indian Penal Code (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) read with section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and section 3 of Petroleum Act and also under Excise Act.

Dalvi said police were investigating the duo in the matter.

In the recent past, around eight personnel of Maharashtra Police were apprehended by the Excise department for smuggling out liquor from the state.