Interstate Fake 'AdBlue' Racket Busted: Subsidized Urea Used to Make Spurious Diesel Fluid; 7 Arrested

In a major crackdown on industrial fraud, Odisha Police has unearthed a massive interstate syndicate involved in manufacturing and distributing counterfeit Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), commonly known as 'AdBlue'. The scam, which targeted thousands of truck owners in transport hubs like Paradeep, involved using subsidized neem-coated ureaoriginally intended for farmersto produce the spurious fluid.
The Modus Operandi
The racket was operating out of a large-scale manufacturing unit in the Jharsuguda region. According to police reports, the accused mixed subsidized agricultural urea with water and certain chemicals to mimic the appearance of genuine AdBlue.
To gain the trust of unsuspecting buyers, the syndicate used counterfeit packaging, labels, and holograms of reputable automotive brands, including Tata and Ashok Leyland. These fake products were then pushed into the retail market and local garages at discounted rates.
Identities of the 7 Accused
Police have arrested seven individuals in connection with the scam, hailing from different states and districts:
Mukesh Chand Yogi (Rajasthan)
Raj Kumar Hemram (Jharsuguda, Odisha)
Brijbhushan Singh (Jharsuguda, Odisha)
Aman Kumar Singh (Lamti Bahal, Odisha)
Ziaul Ansari (Chhattisgarh)
Akash Agrawal (Bargarh, Odisha)
Parth Sarathi Mishra (Talcher, Odisha)
Severe Impact on BS-VI Engines
Automotive experts have warned that using this counterfeit fluid is catastrophic for modern heavy vehicles. BS-VI engines rely on high-purity DEF to reduce emissions. The impurities in the fake urea-water mixture can:
Damage sensitive Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) sensors.
Clog the exhaust system, leading to a total engine failure.
Result in repair costs running into lakhs of rupees for truck owners.
Police & Administrative Advisory
With Paradeep being a massive hub for heavy transport and port-related logistics, the local administration and Vigilance Department have stepped up monitoring of local garages and spare-part shops.
Truck owners and transport operators in the Jagatsinghpur district are strongly advised to purchase AdBlue only from authorized showrooms or reputable petrol pumps. The police are currently tracing the supply chain to identify more retail outlets involved in the distribution of these hazardous counterfeit products.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities look for more links in other industrial belts across the state.