Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Jun 5: Malpe police have taken a 43-year-old man into custody for allegedly storing and selling commercial LPG cylinders without the required licence and documentation.

According to police, acting on credible information that Sanath Kamath was illegally stocking and selling LPG cylinders, officials from the Food Department, accompanied by Malpe police personnel, conducted a raid at his residence near Malpe Junction in Kodavoor village of Udupi taluk at around 10.45 am on June 3.

The raid team included food administrative officer Asha K (53) from the Udupi taluk office and food inspector Hitesh U B, along with Malpe police sub-inspector Anil Kumar and his staff.

During the inspection, authorities found a total of 21 commercial LPG cylinders stored on the premises. These included 12 commercial cylinders of 19-kg capacity, one of which was filled with LPG, and nine commercial cylinders of 5-kg capacity.

When questioned, Sanath Kamath reportedly admitted that he had stored the commercial cylinders for sale to individuals engaged in fishing-related activities. He was unable to produce any licence or valid documents authorising the storage or sale of the cylinders.

The food department officials seized all the cylinders under a mahazar and subsequently filed a complaint with Malpe police.

Based on the complaint, Malpe police registered a case.

The accused has been identified as Sanath R Kamath (43), a resident of Malpe in Kodavoor village of Udupi taluk.

Police took him into custody later in the evening on June 3 near Malpe Junction. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to storing and selling LPG cylinders without a valid licence. He was formally taken into custody and produced before the court for further legal proceedings.

Further investigation is underway.