Lucknow:
In a shocking development, the Special Task Force (SP) of Uttar Pradesh Police conducted raids at eight petrol pumps in Lucknow and found a chip at each petrol pump that was being used to cheat the costumers.
The STF conducted raids at the petrol pumps on Thursday after receiving a tip off and recovered electronic chips at few pumps. Several persons were detained from the petrol pump near King George Medical University in Lucknow.
The petrol was being sifted using an electronic device, STF sources said. It was found that around 50 ml petrol per litre was being stolen by the petrol pump staff.
The chip costs about Rs 3,000. A racket of petrol pump owners, involved in using the chip in the machines to dupe customers, has been busted.
According to sources, the chip was developed by a man identified as Ravinder. According to police, the output of the petrol dispensing machines was reduced by nearly six percent with the help of the device. Attached with a wire, the chip is controlled using a remote.
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The maker of the chip has sold around 1000 chips to petrol pumps across Uttar Pradesh. According to him, he learned the skills to develop the chip from an engineer.
Police have confirmed that they have unearthed the chips from petrol pumps at Sitapur road, Chinhat, Samta Mulak and KGMU. If a customer purchased 1 litre petrol, the machine would dispense 940 ml of fuel with the help of the chip, police said.
STF sleuths said that the petrol pump owners were earning estimated profits to the tune of Rs 14 lakh each month with the help of the chip. An FIR has been filed against the petrol pump owners.
