When Das was resting, an unidentified person approached him saying that he could take him to an hospital. Das immediately agreed and accompanied the man to the SSG Hospital from where the man slipped away.

Suspecting foul play, Das then rushed to the petrol pump without waiting for treatment and found his tanker missing. He then lodged a FIR in the Vernama police station naming the unidentified man as the accused. After the tanker was traced, Tuteja said, the police discovered that one of the vehicle's wheels had been punctured and the accused had given it for repairs to a mechanic. The wheel was then recovered from the mechanic's shop, refitted it to the vehicle and then driven back to the Vernama Police Station.