New Delhi: Earlier this year, a right to information (RTI) revealed that Ahmedabad District Cooperative (ADC) Bank, with Amit Shah as its director, deposited demonetised currency notes worth Rs. 745.59 crore only five days after demonetisation.
Newslaundry has now released the names of 12 petrol pumps in Gujarat that deposited more than Rs. 80 lakh each with ADC.
Interestingly, almost all of these 12 names are directly or indirectly related to the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) chief Amit Shah.
Here’s a list of the 12 petrol pumps.
1. Prachi Gasoline: Run by Amit Shah’s close aide Bipin Patel Gota
The Indian Oil petrol pump, located in Gota area of Ahmedabad, is owned by BJP leader Amit Shah’s close aide Bipin Patel Gota. The petrol pump records an average sale of 13,000 and 14,000 litres of fuel per day.
During demonetisation, this branch deposited an amount of Rs 1.63 crore with Gota branch of ADC.
Mangaji Thakkor, manager of the pump, confirmed that the petrol pump was owned by Bipin Patel Gota. Speaking to Newslaundry, Thakkor also stated that during demonetisation, the sales “would not have crossed more than 1.5 times of the sales of the normal sales”.
Patel is also a BJP leader and one of the directors of ADC. Furthermore, he is the Director of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) and Gujarat State Cooperative Bank.
2. Mahakali Petroleum: Co-owned by Arvind Chauhan, a local BJP leader and sarpanch of Bilasiya village
This Hindustan Petroleum station is located on the state highway near Bilasiya village, Ahmedabad. Mahakali Petroleum is co-owned by Prabhat Singh Chauhan and Arvind Chauhan. Both the brothers also share the profits from the petrol pump.
Notably, Arvind Chauhan is also the sarpanch of Bilasiya village and is associated with the BJP.
During demonetisation, this branch deposited an amount of Rs. 1.25 crore with ADC.
3. Brijraj Petroleum: Named after BJP Botad District Vice-President Brijraj Sinh
Located near the Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar Highway, this Indian Oil petrol station is owned by Mahendra Sinh Jala, and is named after his nephew, Brijraj Sinh.
Shivraj Sinh, manager of the petrol pump, confirmed Newslaundry that Brijraj Sinh is General Secretary of the BJP Botad district unit.
During demonetisation, this branch deposited an amount of Rs. 84 lakh with Barwala branch of ADC.
4. Parag Petroleum: Owned by a family associated with the BJP
This Essar petrol pump is located on the Uvarsad-Vavol road in Gandhinagar. This station has three partners and is owned by Parag Patel. Interestingly, Parag’s nephew, Ashik Patel, is a member of the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha—the BJP’s youth wing.
This petrol pump deposited Rs. 1.72 crore in Uvarsad branch of ADC during demonetisation.
5. Gajanand Petroleum: Owned by a family associated with the BJP
Hitesh Patel, who is a member of BJP, runs this petrol pump located near Ranoda village in Gujarat. Patel also told Newslaundry that his brother-in-law Jignesh Patel is Taluka Pramukh of Dholka city.
Patel’s petrol pump deposited Rs. 84 lakh in Keliya Vasana branch of ADC after demonetisation.
Also read: Demonetisation: Devastation Perpetrated On Indians- For The Personal Glory Of One Man- Modi
6. Laxmi Fuel Station: owned by the son of Gujarat Police’s Deputy SP
According to report, this is one of the primary located Indian Oil petrol pumps in the Ahmedabad-Pipli-Bhavnagar highway, near Dhandhuka’s Aambali village. Laxmi Fuel Station is run by Ajay Sinh Vaghela—one of the sons of Hardev Singh Vaghela, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Gujarat Police.
The petrol station deposited Rs. 1.18 crore in Dholera branch of ADC.
7. NG Gadhiya Filling Station: Linked to Rajasthan’s NG Gadhiya Group
This petrol pump is owned by Nilesh Gadhiya and is part of the NG Gadhiya Group.
Its current average sales are between 5,000-5,500 litres per day. While in the first week after dmeonetisation, its sales increased to 8,000-10,000 litres per day.
The station deposited Rs 1.11 crore in Barwala branch of ADC after demonetisation.
8 & 9. Navkar Petroleum: Located in Ahmedabad’s Changodar and Vastrapur areas
Navkar Petroleum is run by a businessman named Bhaumik Thakkar.
Thakkar owns two Bharat Petroleum pumps: one in Changodar and another on an ad hoc arrangement in Ahmedabad city.
Navkar petroleum in Changodar deposited Rs. 1.74 crore in Changodar branch of ADC during demonetisation, whereas, Vastrapur petrol pump deposited Rs. 1.26 crore in Vastrapur branch of ADC.
10. Sun Petrogas: Located in Saraspur locality of Ahmedabad
Even though the dealership is in the name of Dilip Samji Gala, the pump is run by 38-year-old Manoj Sanjva. This petrol pump is in Ahmedabad city’s Saraspur area.
Sun Petrogas station deposited Rs 92 lakh in Saraspur branch of ADC after demonetisation.
11. Jay Petroleum: located in Kuha village
This is an Indian Oil petrol pump located on the state highway, at Kuha village in Daskroi Tehsil, Ahmedabad. The station is owned by Alkaben Patel and is run by her husband Ketal Patel (43).
Jay petroleum deposited Rs 1.01 crore in Kuha branch of ADC.
12. Shethwala Petroleum: located in Hansalpur
Shethwala Petroleum is situated in Hasanlpur, a distant location from Ahmedabad city. This petrol pump had deposited Rs 89 lakh in ADC’s Hansalpur branch, according to Newslaundry sources.
Also read: Amit Shah’s Vitriol Embarasses India: Bangladesh Expresses Anguish At ‘Termites’ Remark