The District Attorney Office (DAO) in Kavre has filed cases against four gasoline stations with the District Court for black marketing and giving short measure, demanding a penalty much higher than that asked by the police.

Panchkhal Oil Store, Mata Palanchok Fuel Centre, Ugrachandi Oil Store and Jaya Ambe Traders are the petrol pumps against whom lawsuits were filed on Monday.

The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) had found them engaging in giving short measure during an inspection. The agency confirmed that the amount of gasoline their customers were getting was 2-5 percent short.

The DAO has sought a five-year prison term, return of the money their customers were cheated out of and a fine of an equivalent amount, said District Attorney Govinda Upadhyay. The police had suggested seeking a two-year jail term. As per the charge sheet, Panchkhal Oil Store has been charged with committing fraud worth Rs6.97 million over 13 months while Mata Palanchok Fuel Centre has been charged with fraud worth Rs4.93 million over 15 months.

Likewise, Ugrachandi has been charge with committing fraud amounting to Rs3.97 million over eight months while Jaya Ambe has been charged with fraud worth Rs776,800 over 10 months.

Panchkhal had sold 2.02 million litres of diesel and 214,000 litres of petrol while Mata Palanchok had sold 1.27 million litres of diesel and 220,000 litres of petrol during the respective periods.

Similarly, Ugrachandi had sold 970,000 litres of diesel and 292,000 litres of petrol while Jaya Ambe had sold 219,000 litres of diesel and 32,000 litres of petrol during the respective periods. The quantity and value of the fraud was determined based on their transactions.

The proprietor of Ugrachandi, Thakur Bajgai, is at large, as are Shree Ram Shrestha, Bimal Shrestha and Saroj Shrestha, proprietors of Panchakanya Oil Store.

The Shresthas have been accused of selling 1,444 litres of fuel without the presence of the police.

The NBSM said that Pashupati Oil Store of Bhakudebeshi had been giving short measure.

It added that action would be taken against the offending gasoline station as per the Standard Measurement and Weight Act.

However, some petrol pumps have been let off even though they were also caught cheating their customers. Panchkumari Oil Store has been accused of changing its equipment overnight after it was found giving short measure.

Modern Amenity Suppliers and Bhagwati Oil Store also got clean chits from the NBSM even though they had been found engaging in irregularities.