42 cylinders seized from panchayat ex-chief home | Lucknow News

Lucknow: An administrative team raided the residence of a former nagar panchayat chairman in Dostpur (Sultanpur) and recovered 42 LPG cylinders amid allegations of black marketing of cooking gas, officials said on Saturday.The raid was conducted at a house of Rajaram in the Kanshiram Colony of Babhnaiya Purab ward on Friday night. The team, led by sub-divisional magistrate Uttam Tiwari and circle officer Vinay Gautam, seized 7 filled and 35 empty cylinders. Officials said the action followed complaints that LPG cylinders were being illegally brought to the town and sold at higher prices amid the ongoing supply crisis. Authorities suspect that cylinders supplied through a gas agency operated by his relatives near Gosainganj were diverted and sold in the local market. The recovered cylinders were transported to the police station for verification, and one person was taken into custody. Officials said further probe was on to determine whether the cylinders were part of an organised black marketing network. Meanwhile, amid reports of LPG shortages, administrative teams also inspected gas agencies in Jaisinghpur to check stock registers, booking records and distribution procedures. Officials said no major irregularities were found during the inspection. District authorities in Sultanpur held a meeting with gas agency operators and petrol pump owners and maintained that LPG, petrol and diesel supplies remained adequate. They warned of strict action against anyone found involved in hoarding or black marketing. However, the shortage of commercial cylinders began affecting hotels and eateries across the district.