A 35-year-old entrepreneur took to Facebook to raise her voice against alleged cheating at a petrol pump in Charkop. Two videos recorded by the woman, which show how the customers are shortchanged, went viral on social media, forcing the authorities to stop sale from the erring units of the petrol pump.

On February 28, Charkop resident Ami Sheth went to M/s Charkop Petroleum on Poisar Road to refill petrol in her scooter. While in the queue, she heard Purnima Reddy, another customer, complain that despite having asked for a full-tank, her vehicle’s fuel indicator did not show it. Sheth shot a video of the alleged cheating incident on her mobile phone and alerted the Mumbai Police control room.

“The police reached the spot and took away the workers from the pump. But they refused to file any complaint and told us to approach the consumer forum. So, I shot another video inside the police station which, too, went viral, and I started receiving messages of support,” Sheth, who runs a consultancy firm named Yashuss Unlimited, told DNA.

Sheth also started an online campaign to stop petrol pump owners from fleecing unsuspecting consumers. “BPCL, the company that supplies fuel at the said petrol pump, contacted me for a meeting. They first told me to pull down the post in which they were also tagged. But the comments made by netizens are not under my control. Instead of coming out with a solution, they just assured me that such incidents will not happen again,” she said.

Suraj Pratap, Deputy Manager, BPCL (Retail Sales), said, “We went to check the petrol pump and also met the complainant.” He refused to divulge any details.

As the videos went viral, the authorities took notice of the issue. “An inspection was carried out at M/S Charkop Petroleum. Short delivery of about 30 ml in every 5 litres dispensed was observed in one petrol dispenser. Similarly, 35 ml less diesel was dispensed in every 5 litres supply.

Action under Legal Metrology Act, 2009 has been taken. Two other petrol dispensers were also found delivering 20 ml less in 5-litre supply, which is within the permissible limits of 25 ml. However, sale from those units has been stopped by giving notice as per law with a view to safeguard consumer interests.

They require recalibration, and after verification by an inspector they can be put into use again,” said Amitabh Gupta, Controller of Legal Metrology Organisation (LMO).

He added that every pump is required to keep a standard verified measure of 5 litres. “Any consumer can request a dealer to inform him about the quantity delivered with the help of that measure. After having received complaints of short delivery at petrol pumps, I have instructed all the deputy controllers of LMO to pay surprise visits at all the petrol pumps in their jurisdiction and take action if anyone is found guilty as per the Legal Metrology Rules. I have also sought an action-taken report from them,” said Gupta.

The LMO has also written to the oil supplying companies to carry out surprise inspections at petrol pumps.

A worker from M/S Charkop Petroleum, on condition of anonymity, said, “We have explained the complainant about the issue. It was a human error. We don’t exploit our customers.”