123 Kolkata: Criminal proceedings against a hotel in Behala found violating rules by using domestic cylinders for commercial purpose was quashed by Calcutta High Court as the raid and seizure was conducted by an officer below the rank of inspector which was against the rule.
The West Bengal Cooking Gas (Licencing and Control) order, 1985, authorises ‘any police officer, not below the rank of an inspector' to conduct raids, search, seizure for proper use and equitable distribution of LPG gas cylinders, Justice Uday Kumar noted in a judgment on March 28. During hearing, it was found that acting on a tip-off SI of Enforcement Branch (fuel section) had raided Hotel Maa Ambey on Jan 16, 2020. During the raid in presence of hotel owner Dharam Raj Yadav, they recovered seven domestic gas cylinders.
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