Following a presidential approval to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2011, people involved in the theft of oil and gas and disrupting petroleum supply will now face a maximum imprisonment of 14 years and a fine of Rs 10 million. Under Section-462B of the law, any person who tampers or assists in tampering with petroleum pipelines for the purpose of (a) theft of petroleum or (b) disrupting the supply of petroleum shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to 14 years, but shall not be less than seven years, and with a maximum fine of Rs 10 million.
Section-462C states that any person who tampers or abets in tampering with auxiliary or distribution pipeline of petroleum for the purpose of (a) theft of petroleum or (b) disrupting supply of petroleum shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to 10 years, but shall not be less than five years, and fine which may extend to Rs 3 million. According to Section-462D, any domestic consumer who tampers or abets in tampering with any gas meter regulator, meter index or gas connection shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or a fine which may extend to Rs 100,000, or both.