Cuttack, May 13: The crime branch's Special Task Force busted a diesel adulteration racket by arresting three persons from Gandarpur here today.

A crime branch official said the racket was operating from a godown, barely 200 metres from Chauliaganj police station.

The accused were identified as driver Abhay Khatei, helper Dhaneswar Parida and caretaker-cum-manager of the godown Bijay Rout.

Superintendent of the force Prashant Bhoi said: "The gang has been operating from the godown for the past five years. We have identified the mastermind, Surendra Dalai, who escaped from the spot during the raid," said Bhoi.

Police have seized a tanker containing 18,000 litres of diesel, another one loaded with 5,000 litres of kerosene, two generator sets, three motor pumps, three bottles of chemicals (used of changing the colour of kerosene) and Rs 50,000 in cash. The cost of the seized diesel and kerosene is around Rs 10 lakh.

Bhoi said a few unscrupulous drivers of oil companies carrying diesel to various locations in the state were involved in the racket. They used to bring tankers carrying diesel, and at the godown, they used to mix kerosene with it. The diesel tanker containing 18,000 litres of fuel was to be transported to various filling stations in Rayagada. The gang had also kept four fire extinguishers at the godown to prevent any mishaps while loading and unloading fuel through electric motor pumps.

All the three accused have been booked under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act. The crime branch suspects involvement of nearly 10 persons in the racket. The police had busted a major fuel adulteration racket and arrested five persons from Choudwar on April 29 last year.