GUJRAT, Nov 10: Some influential oil dealers have allegedly stolen thousands of litres of diesel oil from Chak Pirana Oil Depot of the Pakistan State Oil with the collaboration of depot staff, it was learnt here on Monday.

Sources told Dawn on the condition of anonymity that the depot staff had released two different invoices of 14,000 litres each on one indent number to an oil dealer who was unaware of the second fake release order.

As per details, the depot staff had issued the invoice No 2981323 against the indent No 0351769 of ‘A’ Oils and allowed the company vehicle (AJK-7298) to carry 14,000 litres of diesel from the depot on Oct 31, 2003.

The depot staff on the same day issued another invoice No 2981408 against the same indent No 0351769 of ‘A’ Oils and allowed the very company vehicle (AJK-7298) to carry another 14,000 litres of diesel, they said.

The owner of ‘A’ Oils remained unaware about the issuance of the second fake release order and carrying of another 14,000 litres of diesel while the PSO had to suffer a loss of around Rs285,000 due to this irregularity. They claimed the stolen diesel had been stored at an oil agency situated close to Theekarian, Gulliana Morr. They further claimed that influential oil thieves, including a petrol pump owner, had developed some rift with the depot incharge who refused to fulfil their illegal demands. They said that these oil dealers with the collaboration of some corrupt staff had stolen the diesel only to fail the depot incharge.

The Kharian Sadar police station had registered two different cases against some nominated accused for stealing hundreds of litres of oil from the depot about five months ago and the PSO high-ups had suspended the then depot incharge, Chaudhry Zaman. However, the Kharian police could not recover the stolen oil. Another depot incharge, Chaudhry Akhtar, who was one of the favourites of the petrol pump owner, had also been suspended from service for negligence of duties some two years ago.

Sources claimed that some officials deployed at some key points had been working in the depot for the last many years. They had become corrupt and had also links with oil thieves, sources said.

These corrupt officials were committing irregularities after taking bribe from some influential oil dealers, they said and added that the NAB should collect details about the assets of the corrupt depot staff. The illegal practice and irregularities could be stopped by a major reshuffle at the depot, sources added. The depot incharge was not present in his office when contacted by telephone to seek his comments over the issue.