Police in Jaipur busted an elaborate diesel theft racket where two men, a brother-in-law duo, dug a tunnel to tap into an underground pipeline while pretending to run a mineral water business.

The accused had rented a house in Dahmi Kalan village near a private university in Jaipur’s Bagru area. From the outside, the property appeared to be a small-scale mineral water bottling unit. In reality, however, a massive theft operation was underway beneath the surface.

The gang had dug a tunnel from inside the house to reach a Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) underground pipeline, located about 25 feet away. They breached the pipeline by installing a valve and began siphoning diesel illegally. The operation was masked under the pretense of water supply to avoid suspicion.

The matter came to light after HPCL officials filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) office on June 6, expressing concerns over a drop in pipeline pressure and the possibility of theft. Acting on this, a special police team raided the property and discovered the tunnel and illegal valve. One of the accused, Rajesh Urang, was arrested on the spot, while others fled.

Investigations revealed that the mastermind behind the racket was Shravan Singh from Delhi, who ran the operation along with his brother-in-law Dharmendra Verma alias Rinku. The stolen diesel was sold in the black market at cheaper rates, generating large profits. The gang is believed to have been involved in similar operations in Jaipur and Ajmer for several years, and multiple cases are registered against them in different states.

Police said the entire setup was meticulously planned, with the tunnel dug specifically to avoid detection. The elaborate scheme left authorities stunned, especially since the gang had gone to such lengths to disguise the operation.