UP STF busts inter state fueladulteration racket

Lucknow: The UP STF on Tuesday dismantled an inter-state racket involved in adulterating petrol and diesel by mixing ethanol and solvent chemicals, and arrested five members of the gang.Those arrested were identified as Ramu Yadav, Sukhbir Kumar, Sujit Kumar, Rinku Singh, and Deenu. The police seized nine 200-litre drums of ethanol/solvent, three drums of petrol, one drum containing a mixture of ethanol/solvent and petrol, one 100-litre drum of petrol, a tanker carrying 15,000 litres of petrol and 5,000 litres of diesel; one Mahindra pickup, one Maruti pickup, one Maruti van, two motorised filler machines, one generator, one safe containing cash, one ATM card, and multiple tax invoices and bills. The STF had received intelligence reports about a gang mixing ethanol and solvent chemicals into petrol and diesel for illegal distribution at an inter-state level. Under the supervision of additional superintendent of police (STF) Amit Kumar Nagar, a team was formed to collect actionable intelligence. "It was revealed that the gang operated near Lodh Mau village, along the highway leading to Sitapur from Kisan Path. They were siphoning petrol and diesel from tankers, mixing solvents, and then supplying the adulterated fuel in the region," said Nagar. Acting on the tip-off, inspector Dilip Tiwari led a joint team with excise department officials to the location. Upon inspecting the containers, the team found highly flammable adulterated fuel mixed with solvents. Samples were collected and sent to the regional excise laboratory, which confirmed the presence of ethanol solvents in the fuel. ASP Nagar said that during interrogation, the accused confessed to operating an organised racket supplying adulterated petrol and diesel in Lucknow and nearby districts at Rs 75–Rs 80 per litre. Rinku Singh admitted his long-term involvement in the supply of adulterated fuel and revealed he had previously been imprisoned in July 2024 on similar charges at Sairpur police station, Lucknow.

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