UP police unearths scam in PM Modi’s Ujjwala Scheme, over 4,900 cylinders seized

Uttar Pradesh police has seized over 4,900 LPG cylinders and sealed a gas agency in connection with a scam in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship 'Ujjawala Scheme', according to news agency ANI. The police have recovered 4,912 LPG cylinders and over 6,000 regulators from bushes and godown in Balrampur district’s Pachperwa area.

Bhargav Indian Rural Distributor - the gas agency, allegedly involved in the scam, has been sealed by the police. The LPG cylinders recovered from the agency were to be reportedly distributed among Tharu tribal women.

"After identification of every cylinder, we recovered 8,912 surplus cylinders, 4,912 LPG cylinders and 6,364 regulators with no accountability from Bhargav gas agency," the agency quoted District Magistrate Krishna Karunesh as saying.

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The scam was unearthed after locals informed authorities that the gas cylinders, which were to be given to tribal women, were being stored at the agency. The villagers alleged that they were charged from Rs 500 to Rs 1500 to fill the form for gas connections.

However, the Bhargav agency started selling the cylinders in black instead of supplying them to the villagers. They claimed that the agency has not been giving the cylinders, provided to the villagers under the 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojna', for the last two years.

The UP police has registered an FIR against five accused, including the operator of the gas agency. The district magistrate has also written to oil companies to investigate other agencies in the area.