Malegaon ADC Yashwant Sonawane Burnt Alive

Additional district collector of Malegaon Yashwant Sonawane was on 25 January 2011 killed by suspected members of oil mafia at Manmad in Nashik district after detected pilfering of kerosene. Sonawane was burnt alive following which over 80000 gazetted officers in Maharashtra ceased work for the day to protest the killing. Authorities launched a massive crackdown on oil adulteration mafia across Maharashtra on 27 January 2011 raiding 200 places and arresting around 180 people. Main accused Popat Shinde who himself sustained burn injuries has two earlier cases registered against him in connection with fuel adulteration. Petroleum minister S Jaipal Reddy introduced steps including re-introduction of a chemical marker in kerosene in six months in order to eliminate the scope for adulteration of diesel using this subsidised fuel. He advised states to use GPS-based vehicular tracking system for trucks transporting petrol and diesel to track the movement and possible route deviations. The killing of Yashwant Sonawane once again highlighted the problem of kerosene being used for adulteration.