Angul: The Angul Police on Monday busted an inter-state oil theft gang with the arrest of 12 persons including a mechanical engineer of Mathura.
The gang had allegedly drilled IOCL pipeline near Kanjari village in Jarpada and was drawing oil through a special pipe. More than 49,000 litres of oil had been stolen by the gang with this method, said police.
After a fall in pressure in pipeline, IOCL officials at Sambalpur got suspicious. They examined the pipeline and found out the oil theft.
Later the IOCL authorities reported the matter to police.
Mechanical engineer Vineet Gupta, who is among the arrested persons, was the mastermind of the oil theft, stated police.
Vineet's father is a staff of IOCL and involved in similar type of offence, police sources added.
"We have seized Rs 4.56 lakh cash, two tankers and three other vehicles from the possession of the arrested persons," informed Angul SP Brijesh Ray.