Petrol dealer cries foul, protests in Mangalore

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 16, 2015:  Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) owned by the State, is accused of harassing and blackmailing a petroleum product dealer belonging to Scheduled Caste, who is operating company-owned outlet at Mudigere in Chikkamagaluru district.  

M.D. Prakash, dealer of ’Genuine Petro Point’, Mudigere, is on a hunger strike along with family in front of HPCL’s regional office.  He said his dealership was in partnership with H.D. Dasharath. When  Dasharath owed more than Rs. 25 lakh to HPCL, the company stopped fuel supplies to the dealership. Dasharath conducted the transactions and the company interacted with him, and not with  Prakash, the original dealer.

The Rs. 25 lakh due was the amount incurred by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) towards purchase of diesel, which had been credited to Dasharath’s personal account, he alleged.  HPCL in a statement here said that it was not aware of anyone other than the appointed dealer –  Prakash. It said  Prakash had sent a proposal for financial partnership with  Dasharath in September 2013, but the application was not in the right format.   Ever since Rs. 25 lakh was due to HPCL, it had been coaxing  Prakash to make the payment. A  conciliatory meeting held by Mangaluru South MLA J.R. Lobo, company representatives said they had to obtain permission from higher officials.  Prakash agreed to temporarily withdraw the strike.