Mundhwa police have registered a case against three people for allegedly extracting gas from filled domestic LPG cylinders and transferring it into empty cylinders for sale, a practice that authorities said created a serious risk of leakage, fire and explosion in the Pune neighbourhood.
The alleged refilling operation was being conducted near the Shiv Sena office in Mundhwa village without the required permission, according to information released by the police. The accused have been identified as Bhupendrapratap Sunder Singh, 38, a resident of Sainagar, Mundhwa Nagari; Mankaram Sukhram Siyak, 39, from Somanath Mala in Pathare Vasti, Chandan Nagar; and Mahendra Baburam Khichad, 19, from Kharadi.
Police said the three had arranged the equipment to remove gas from a filled cylinder through a pipe and transfer it into an empty cylinder. The gas was then allegedly being sold without official authorisation. The operation was reportedly being carried out for financial gain and without compliance with the safety procedures required for handling LPG.
The matter came to police attention at around 9.30 am on the 7th, after which officers conducted an inspection at the location. The accused were allegedly found carrying out the refilling process during the inspection. Police said that the absence of necessary safety measures increased the possibility of a gas leak, which could have led to a fire or explosion and endangered people living or working nearby.
The case was registered at Mundhwa police station on the complaint of police employee Ekta Baburao Salunke. The charges include Sections 125 and 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Police Inspector Smita Wasnik is conducting the further investigation.
The incident highlights the safety risks created when LPG is transferred outside the regulated distribution system. Domestic cylinders are designed to be handled, transported and supplied through authorised channels. Unlicensed transfer at an informal location can expose nearby residents, workers and adjoining properties to hazards that are difficult to control once a leak occurs.
Mundhwa has experienced rapid residential and commercial growth, bringing homes, small businesses and transport activity into close proximity in several parts of the area. In such mixed-use neighbourhoods, unauthorised storage or handling of combustible materials can create risks beyond the premises where the activity takes place. The police action therefore also involves monitoring potentially hazardous commercial practices in a densely occupied urban environment.
Police said they are keeping watch in other parts of Pune to identify illegal LPG refilling operations. Authorities have appealed to residents to inform the police if they notice gas being refilled or sold through unauthorised methods. Deputy Commissioner of Police Jeevan Beniwal also said meetings would be held with gas distributors to issue necessary instructions. These measures are expected to form part of the next steps in the enforcement response.
