[1]Screenshot from the video uploaded by Kiruba Shankar
In India, where fraud at gas pumps is commonplace and many complaints [2] remain unresolved, a blogger's viral [3] Facebook video has helped shed light on the problem.
Kiruba Shankar [4], a digital entrepreneur, author, teacher, farmer and long-time blogger in Chennai, India, explained [5] how he first discovered the fraudulent practice:
I just caught the staff red-handed at Bharath Petroleum fuel station on Mount Road. They tried stealing Rs.700 worth of petrol. I paid Rs.2000 for the fuel and as the meter reached Rs.1300, one of the guys tried distracting me by asking me for my car number. Immediately, his accomplice manning the fuel pump stopped the pump and quickly reset the meter. As soon as the guy asked me for the number, I smelled a rat and saw the pump just when the guy was resetting it.
This incident took place in the Bharath Petroleum's Mount Road outlet in Chennai. Kiruba uploaded the video [1] to Facebook, and the one-minute, 44-second-long video went viral with more than 6,000 shares and 3,000 likes. Many people shared their similar experiences in the comments section and local media started [6] reporting on it.
Rajesh Murugesan [7], a commenter on the video, said:
Hey guys why blame only Bharat Petroleum, it happens with all petrol bunks. our Indian officer's just need to fill their pockets and are not worried about others. These officer's to be punished or teased in public.
Yashwanth Vee [8], another commenter, wrote:
It is a good thing that you came out and posted this on a social network. Hope the responsible person sees this video and takes some kind of action.
Kiruba posted updates [5] on how the authorities reacted:
The social media outrage coupled with the coverage in national dailies has brought this incident right up to the CMD and top management of Bharath Petroleum.
They requested Mr.Kshitij Midha, Area Sales Manager for South Chennai to meet me in person. He is incharge of overseeing 35 fuel stations, including the one where the incident took place. […]
The BPCL official did an investigation with the owner and staff at Ashwini Automobiles (the franchisee who runs the fuel station). After cross examining, they did find the two men guilty and they have been fired from their jobs. […]
BPCL has the official complaint numbers displayed in all petrol pumps but most of the customers don’t take the extra effort to lodge a complaint. He encouraged people to complain which will keep the staff grounded.
Blogger Shushant Kulkarni [9] from Pune advised how not to get cheated in a petrol station:
You might be getting fooled if you are not paying close attention. […] I have noticed this a lot many times, have gotten first hand experience getting cheated a couple of times :), but eventually learned the pattern. You have experienced these or may be you are not paying attention to these.
The Allrounder blog [10] also has similar tips to share. Vinaya Naidu at Lighthouse Insights [11] blog lauded the role of social media in exposing malpractice in the society:
A rampant malpractice at most fuel stations in the country, one that needs to be tackled in these times of high fuel prices. It is interesting to observe how social media can play an important role in eliminating this, if leveraged fruitfully as Kiruba did.