NOC starts probe on Biratnagar fuel theft

BIRATNAGAR, March 4: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has recalled Basu Bhandari, chief of its Biratnagar Depot, to the head office to start investigation against him for alleged fuel theft.



Bhandari has been accused of unloading fuel from a tanker which was sealed by a five-member team led by NOC Eastern Regional Chief Deepak Baral. The team had sealed the tanker after it was found carrying 606 liters less fuel. The tanker was ferrying 20,000 liters of aviation fuel from Siliguri, India. He has been accused of selling fuel midway. [break]



NOC has also formed a three-member probe team under the leadership of Bhubaneshwar Bhandari, chief of NOC´s Engineering Department. The team arrived in Biratnagar on Saturday. It started investigation into the case from Sunday.



“Bhandari has been recalled at the head office because his clarification on why he unloaded fuel from the sealed tanker was deemed unsatisfactory,” a highly placed source at NOC told Republica. “We will take further action against him after the probe team submits its report.”



Meanwhile, the probe team questioned Shyam Majhi, the driver of the tanker and other depot officials in connection with the incident.

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