Rahul Gandhi has accused the Centre of misleading consumers over the ethanol content in petrol (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Centre of misleading consumers over the ethanol content in petrol, alleging that oil marketing companies are supplying fuel with ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed 20 per cent limit. His remarks have intensified the political debate surrounding the Centre's E20 petrol programme.
Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, raised the issue in a post on X on Saturday, drawing a parallel with his earlier allegations of "vote chori".
Referring to the fuel as "420", a reference to the erstwhile IPC section dealing with cheating, Gandhi alleged that laboratory tests of petrol samples collected from seven districts in Karnataka had found ethanol concentrations above the permitted limit.
E20 बना 420 - जनता की गाड़ी से पेट्रोल चोरी!
मोदी सरकार कहती है - पेट्रोल में 20% एथेनॉल है। कर्नाटक सरकार ने 7 ज़िलों से पेट्रोल के सैंपल लेकर मान्यता प्राप्त लैब में जाँच करवाई।
नतीजा देखिए
- 14 में से 11 सैंपल में 20% से ज़्यादा एथेनॉल
- IOCL में 31.2%, HPCL में 30.5%
- IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, Nayara, Shell - सरकारी हों या प्राइवेट - सब सीमा से ऊपर
- और कंपनियों की अपनी लैब ने एथेनॉल की मात्रा रिपोर्ट में लिखी ही नहींमतलब आप पैसा महंगे पेट्रोल का दे रहे हैं, टंकी में एथेनॉल भरा जा रहा है। नुकसान किसका? आपका।
आपकी गाड़ी इतना एथेनॉल पचाने के लिए बनी ही नहीं - मतलब, घटता माइलेज, बार-बार मैकेनिक। शौक से ली गई गाड़ी की बर्बादी।
और पंप पर लिखा तक नहीं कि टंकी में क्या डाला जा रहा है - चुनने का कोई विकल्प नहीं।
मोदी जी, बताइए - देश की टंकी में क्या भरा जा रहा है? पेट्रोल में असल में कितना एथेनॉल है? 20% से ज़्यादा मिलावट करने वाली कंपनियों पर कार्रवाई कब होगी?
और डिबेट की चुनौती अब भी खड़ी है। ये मुद्दा भी जोड़ लेंगे - आपकी नीतियों से असल में फ़ायदा किसे हो रहा है?
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 7, 2026
He claimed that 11 of the 14 samples tested contained more than 20 per cent ethanol. According to the figures shared by him, samples from Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) recorded levels of 31.2 per cent and 30.5 per cent, respectively.
Gandhi also questioned why fuel stations do not clearly disclose the ethanol content of petrol sold to consumers. He warned that excessive blending could affect mileage, vehicle performance and maintenance expenses.
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The allegations follow a complaint by the Karnataka government which said petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural and several other areas had shown ethanol levels above the prescribed limit.
State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad said the samples were tested at Bengaluru based Shriram Research Institute, an NABL accredited laboratory.
However, state run oil marketing companies IOC, BPCL and HPCL have rejected the allegations. In a joint statement, they maintained that petrol supplied through their retail outlets complies with Bureau of Indian Standards specifications, which allow ethanol content between 19 and 21 per cent.
The companies also questioned the sampling methods and testing procedures cited by the state government.
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E20 petrol is a blend containing 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. India has accelerated its ethanol-blending programme to reduce dependence on imported crude oil.
The government has acknowledged that E20 may cause a 3-5 per cent reduction in fuel efficiency in some vehicles but has rejected claims of widespread engine damage.
Gandhi has also challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate on the issue, questioning the actual ethanol content being supplied to motorists.
