South Mumbai Hotel Booked For Illegal LPG Cylinder Use Under Essential Commodities Act

Mumbai: A case has been registered against a hotel owner and manager in South Mumbai for allegedly using domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes, in violation of safety regulations and legal provisions, reported Free Press Journal.

According to officials, the FIR was lodged at LT Marg Police Station following a raid at a hotel in the Kalbadevi area. The action came after a complaint was received by a senior rationing officer regarding suspected misuse of subsidised domestic gas cylinders.

The inspection was carried out on March 28, 2026, by a team led by rationing officer Kritika Madhusudan Desai, along with other officials from the Food and Civil Supplies Department. During the raid at Laxmi Vilas Hindu Hotel, located in the Bharat Chamber building, authorities discovered that domestic LPG cylinders were being stored and used in the kitchen without the required permissions or licences. 

Officials recovered one empty cylinder from the premises, while another filled cylinder had already been seized earlier and deposited at the police station. The hotel manager, identified as Prakash Hansaram Purohit, was unable to produce valid documents authorising the use of such cylinders. The hotel owner, Harish Mehta, has also been named in the case.

Authorities stated that the unauthorised use and storage of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial activities not only violates the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, but also poses significant safety risks. Domestic cylinders are subsidised for household use and are not permitted for commercial establishments.

Officials reiterated that strict action would be taken against violators to prevent misuse and ensure public safety, highlighting ongoing efforts to curb illegal LPG practices across the city.

Also Read: Mumbai Theft: 27 LPG Cylinders Taken From Parked Tempo in Kandivali; FIR Registered