A case against Vadodara-based transporter Sidharth Carriers and the supplier Pashchim Petroleum, Savli has been registered and the investigation is in progress, DSO D G Khachar said, but added that details would be available only after thorough probe. He said solvent worth Rs 1.3 lakh and the tanker, worth about Rs 6 lakh, have been seized and kept at the DSO office in Pavijetpur.

The tanker (MP-20-G-6926) was spotted and seized while Khachar was inspecting a couple of kerosene depots in the rural areas of Chhotaudepur and Pavijetpur talukas on Friday and Saturday. The tanker's driver, Rajubhai, was also subsequently taken into custody. According to official information, all documents regarding the sale and supply of the solvent were suspected to be bogus, hence the seizure.

The officials, who quote at least five such cases in the past one year in Vadodara, say that some unscrupulous solvent manufacturers divert the solvent -- which gels well with petrol -- to petrol pumps, but go unscathed by showing the sale to nonexisting chemical companies. Solvent worth around Rs 10 lakh have so far been seized in the five cases, officials said. According to them, the seized tanker was also ``on paper'' dispatched to a Mumbai-based company, though it was flagged down near Madhya Pradesh border on the road going towards Indore. Sources said it was being sent to some petrol pump there.

Earlier in the day, the DSO also caught a kerosene retailer, Gautam Desai, after detecting several irregularities in his sale and stock books. Kerosene worth Rs 7,500 was also seized from his depot.