In a major breakthrough against industrial fraud, the Jharsuguda Police in Odisha have arrested the alleged kingpin behind a sophisticated racket involving the manufacture and distribution of adulterated Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). The mastermind, identified as Anuj Agarwal (31), was apprehended in Jaipur, Rajasthan, following a coordinated multi-state operation.
This arrest marks a critical step in dismantling a network that has been deceiving vehicle owners and potentially damaging modern diesel engines across Odisha and neighboring states.
The Mastermind Behind the Racket
Anuj Agarwal, a resident of the Vaishali Nagar area in Jaipur, was traced by a special police team deputed by Jharsuguda SP G.R. Raghavendra. Acting on specific intelligence, the Odisha team collaborated with the Rajasthan Police to locate and detain Agarwal on Saturday night.
Arrest Details: Agarwal was brought to Jharsuguda for interrogation on Sunday and formally placed under arrest after confessing to his role in the operation.
Seizures: Two mobile phones were seized from his possession, which are expected to reveal further links to distributors across the country.
Legal Action: The accused is scheduled to be produced before a court on Monday.
How the Scam Operated: The Siriabagicha Raid
The investigation gained momentum on Friday, May 8, 2026, when Jharsuguda police raided a warehouse in the Siriabagicha area. The facility was serving as an illegal manufacturing unit where subsidised agricultural urea was being diverted for industrial use.
The Adulteration Process: The racket allegedly mixed subsidised urea with water to create a fake fluid that mimicked genuine DEF.
Deceptive Packaging: To fool customers, the counterfeit product was packed in containers bearing labels of reputed automobile brands and sold through various showrooms and local dealers at genuine market prices.
Evidence Seized: During the raid, police recovered:
Thousands of litres of fake DEF stored in tanks.
256 sacks of diverted urea fertiliser.
Packaging materials, drums, and counterfeit brand labels.
Two vehicles used for transporting the spurious goods.
Total Arrests and Wider Impact
With Agarwal’s capture, the total number of arrests in this case has risen to eight. Earlier, police had detained seven individuals, including:
A local assistant manager.
A fertiliser retail supplier.
A distributor from Talcher involved in selling the products.
Drivers and warehouse workers.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid is essential for modern diesel vehicles equipped with SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Using spurious DEF can lead to:
Clogging of the SCR system.
Reduced engine performance and increased emissions.
Costly repairs exceeding lakhs of rupees.