INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED HYDRAULIC OIL THEFT FROM RBO MACHINE AT OSTAPAL ADMIN

OFFICE

Nature of Investigation:

An email was received from Mr. Golam Hossain, Security Officer, Vedanta, on 01/07/2024 at 19:50
hrs, reporting the theft of hydraulic oil from the RBO19 machine parked at the Ostapal admin office.
The theft occurred while the vehicle was parked in the office campus from June 26, 12 PM to June
29, 2024, 10 AM.

Details of Incident:

 Date and Time of Incident: June 26, 12 PM to June 29, 2024, 10 AM

 Reported by: Mr. Golam Hossain, Security Officer, Vedanta mines
 Date and Time of Report: 01/07/2024 at 19:50 hrs

Description of Incident:

 The AAC Mining operator noticed a significant reduction in the hydraulic oil level on the
gauge when he moved the vehicle.
 Upon inspection, it was found that approximately 30 litres of hydraulic oil were missing.
 The storage area for the oil was initially secured with nuts, but upon checking, the bolts
were found loose and slightly placed in the hole.

Investigation:

Soon after receiving the email, G4S Operation Manager Mr. Baradakanta Mantri, along with SO –
Vedant Mines Mr. Golam Hossain and AAC Safety Officer Mr. Balaram Mohapatra, visited the
concerned area on 03/07/2024. The vehicle and CCTV footage were thoroughly inspected.

During the investigation, it was found that the RBO19 machine was parked in the admin office
campus on 26/06/2024 at 12:00 hrs. Further inspection revealed that the nuts of the hydraulic oil
chamber were found loose and slightly placed in the hole, indicating potential tampering that could
only be performed by specialized/trained individuals.

Personnel Interviewed:

The following security personnel, who were present at the site during the reported period, were
interrogated:

 Alok Ku. Rout (26/06/2024)

 Tapan Sahoo (27/06/2024)
 Prafulla Sethi (28/06/2024)

During the interviews, all three security personnel stated that everything was found to be in order
during their respective duty periods, and they reported this to their supervisors.

CCTV Footage Review:

The CCTV footage from the office campus for the period between June 26 and June 29 was
reviewed. The footage did not reveal any clear evidence, as the CCTV view was blocked by a
container parked in front of the camera.

Findings:

From the depositions of the duty personnel, inspection of the vehicle, and review of the CCTV
footage, it has been found that:

 Approximately 30 liters of hydraulic oil were missing from the RBO19 machine.
 The bolts securing the storage area for the oil were found loose and slightly placed in the
hole, indicating potential tampering.
 There is no conclusive evidence from the CCTV footage to identify the perpetrator of the
theft.
 The tampering of the hydraulic oil chamber, indicated by the loose nuts, suggests
involvement by specialized/trained individuals.

Recommendations:

 The frequency of patrols by security personnel during night shifts to be increased and all
vehicles and equipment are parked in well-lit areas to be covered by CCTV cameras.
 Implement Strict Access Control: Restrict access to the parking area to authorized personnel
only and install additional security measures such as alarms or motion detectors around
critical equipment.
 Regular Inspections: Conduct regular inspections of all vehicles and equipment for any signs
of tampering or theft, and ensure that all storage areas for valuable materials are properly
secured and checked frequently.
 Staff Training: Provide training to security and maintenance staff on the importance of
vigilance and proper securing of equipment, and encourage staff to report any suspicious
activity immediately.

(BARADKANTI MANTRI)
Operation Officer
Investigating Officer

CAPA

1. Incident Occurrence Date & Time: June 26, 2024, 12:00 PM to June 29, 2024, 10:00 AM
2. Incident Response Date & Time: 01/07/2024 at 19:50 hrs
3. Incident Closure Date & Time: 03/07/2024
4. Loss of Amount: Approximately 30 litres of hydraulic oil
5. Number of Hours Lost Due to Business Disruption: NA
6. Root Cause Analysis: Lack of surveillance due to blocked CCTV view and insufficient security
measures
7. Corrective Action: Enhance security measures and implement stricter access control.
Conduct regular inspections and provide staff training.
8. Preventive Action/Recommendation:
i) The frequency of patrols by security personnel during night shifts is to be increased, and
all vehicles and equipment are to be parked in well-lit areas and covered by CCTV
cameras.
ii) Main gated to be closed at 22:30hrs restricting unauthorized access.
iii) Access to the parking area is to be restricted to authorized personnel only, and
additional security measures such as alarms or motion detectors around critical
equipment are to be installed.
iv) Regular inspections of all vehicles and equipment for any signs of tampering or theft are
to be conducted, and all storage areas for valuable materials are to be properly secured
and checked frequently.
v) Security and maintenance staff are to be provided training on the importance of
vigilance and proper securing of equipment, and staff are to be encouraged to report
any suspicious activity immediately.