LUCKNOW, July 14 -- Four people were arrested after police on Sunday busted an alleged fuel adulteration unit operating from a house along the Lucknow-Hardoi highway and recovered a master key, plastic pipes, funnels and measuring cans allegedly used to siphon petrol from loaded tankers before delivery to city fuel stations, officials said on Monday. The alleged unit was uncovered during Operation Ethanol Shield, a special drive launched by the Lucknow Crime Branch to crack down on organised fuel pilferage and adulteration. During a raid near the Sanyasi Bagh flyover in Malihabad on Sunday, police said they uncovered a fully functional illegal fuel storage and mixing facility containing over 16,000 litres of petrol, diesel, adulterated fuel and industrial solvent. According to additional deputy commissioner of police (Crime) Kiran Yadav, acting on a tip-off, the Crime Branch intercepted a tanker parked outside a house in Malihabad. The tanker had left the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) terminal at Amausi carrying petrol and diesel for Shubham Filling Station on Vidhan Sabha Marg. Police alleged that a portion of the petrol had been siphoned off before the tanker reached its destination. Police said an inspection of the tanker revealed about 250 litres of petrol concealed in its pipe and second chamber, indicating that fuel extraction was underway. During interrogation, tanker driver Ramteerth allegedly told police that he siphoned petrol while transporting fuel from the depot and sold it to the alleged kingpin, Anil Kumar, for Rs.75 a litre. Police alleged that Anil, who owns the raided premises, mixed the stolen petrol with solvent and sold the adulterated fuel at a higher price....