Mahasamund LPG Scam: Food Officials and Gas Agency Operator Arrested

In a major breakthrough in the LPG gas diversion case, Chhattisgarh police have arrested three key accused, including two senior food department officials and the operator of a gas agency linked to a political family. The arrests relate to the alleged theft and illegal sale of around 90 metric tonnes of LPG worth over ₹1.5 crore.

The development comes months after police seized six gas-laden capsule tankers in December 2025 for want of valid documents. The vehicles were later handed over for safekeeping to a private petrochemical firm, from where the gas was allegedly siphoned off.

Planned Handover of Tankers

According to police sources, District Food Officer Ajay Yadav, Assistant Food Officer Manish Yadav, and Pankaj Chandrakar, operator of Gaurav Gas Agency in Mahasamund, conspired to divert the LPG. The tankers were moved to Thakur Petrochemicals at Urla in Abhanpur, around 200 km from the seizure site. 

Officials said the handover took place on March 30, 2026, in the presence of food inspectors. The company’s owners, Santosh Singh Thakur and Sarthak Thakur, took custody of the vehicles but allegedly never intended to keep them secure.

Gas Siphoned Off in Days

Investigators found that despite multiple weighbridges on the route, the tankers were not weighed immediately after handover. The vehicles were parked outside the plant, and the gas was gradually transferred into bullet tanks and private tankers over eight days in early April. 

A portion of the diverted LPG, estimated at 4-6 tonnes per consignment, was sold to various agencies in Raipur on mere kachcha challans without proper invoices. Records later showed massive discrepancies — the firm had reportedly shown sales of 107 tonnes in April while purchasing only 47 tonnes legally.

Political Link Under Scanner

Pankaj Chandrakar, one of the arrested persons, is the son-in-law of Dhananjay Chandrakar, brother of former state minister Poonam Chandrakar. The agency he operates has now come under scrutiny in the larger probe. 

Police confirmed that while the two food officials and the agency operator are in custody, the main accused — Santosh Thakur and Sarthak Thakur — are absconding. Teams are conducting raids at possible hideouts.

Earlier Staff Arrest and Evidence Tampering

Earlier, police had arrested Nikhil Vaishnav, an employee of Thakur Petrochemicals. During searches, authorities seized seven LPG tankers, four bullet tanks, around 100 gas cylinders, computers, DVRs, and several documents.

Investigators also discovered attempts to destroy evidence. The April register recording cash transactions and vehicle movements reportedly went missing from the plant office. Experts ruled out significant leakage from the sealed capsules, confirming deliberate diversion.

Public Concern Over Safety and Regulation

The episode has raised serious questions about the handling of hazardous materials and oversight by regulatory departments. LPG being a subsidized and sensitive commodity, any large-scale diversion impacts both the exchequer and consumer supply chains. 

local residents in Mahasamund and surrounding areas expressed concern over the safety risks posed by improper storage and movement of such large volumes of gas. Many wondered how tankers meant to be secured could remain unmonitored for days.

Authorities have assured that a thorough probe is underway and more arrests are likely. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and other acts related to theft, criminal conspiracy, and tampering with evidence. 

Further investigation is expected to reveal the full network involved in the illegal sale of the diverted LPG. Police said they are examining financial trails and possible beneficiaries beyond the primary accused.