LUCKNOW, July 13 -- The crime branch of the Lucknow Police on Sunday unearthed an organised fuel pilferage and adulteration racket, arresting four persons and seizing over 16,000 litres of petrol, diesel, adulterated fuel and solvent in a major crackdown codenamed 'Operation Ethanol Shield'.

The operation was launched after police examined complaints blaming ethanol-blended petrol for vehicle breakdowns. Preliminary findings suggest that many such issues could instead stem from fuel theft, adulteration and black marketing. Acting on it, the crime branch launched a citywide operation to identify organised fuel theft networks.

A team led by additional deputy commissioner of police (crime) Kiran Yadav raided a premises near the Sanyasi Bag...