Police on Monday impounded a fuel tanker in Mahadevbesi in Dhading district.

The tanker was impounded after it was revealed that ‘customers who could buy fuel in bulk’ were being explored.

With an unofficial Indian blockade in place and protests continuing in the Tarai, the country is reeling under acute fuel crisis, which has given rise to black-marketing.

The tanker with the registration number Ba1Kha 6550 was carrying diesel, said DSP Sabin Pradhan. The tanker was parked near Raktakali Crusher Factory in Mahadevbesi.

There was neither the bill nor any official letter, which mentions where the consignment is going to be delivered, said police.

Police, however, found other documents which identified tanker driver as Jeevan Kumar Lama of Palung-3, Makawanpur. He is at large, said police.

One of the documents showed that the tanker was supposed to deliver the fuel to Midim Khola Hydropower Project in Lamjung. “But the tanker was heading towards Kathmandu and it did not have any bill or delivery number,” said DSP Pradhan. “We have received information that customers were being explored to buy the fuel. The whole episode is suspicious.”

Police have detained Prakash Raj Khadka, who claimed ownership of the fuel seized by police, for investigation. Police said Khadka told them that he had received the fuel from Tribeni Oil Store in Nawalparasi. But he could not produce the bill. Khadka has admitted that he had sold 6,000 litres of fuel to Mahadevbesi-based petrol pumps on November 17, said police.

Petro pump owners in Dhading say that black-marketing of fuel, in collusion with officials from Nepal Oil Corporation, is rife in the area. “We have received offers that 12,000 litres of diesel can be made available in Kathmandu if we provide Rs 250,000,” claimed a fuel station operator. “They even told us that documents were not required even if fuel was brought from Amalekhgunj.”