Rahul Gandhi Alleges Excess Ethanol in Petrol, Says ‘E20 Has Become 420’, Targets PM Modi

Rahul Gandhi Alleges E20 Petrol Contains Excess Ethanol, Cites Tests From Seven Karnataka Districts

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has raised questions over the quality of E20 petrol, alleging that several oil marketing companies are supplying fuel with ethanol content above the prescribed 20 per cent limit.

In a post on social media platform X on Saturday, Gandhi referred to laboratory tests of 14 petrol samples collected from seven districts in Karnataka. According to the findings he shared, 11 samples contained ethanol levels exceeding the permitted limit.

Taking a dig at the Centre’s ethanol-blending policy, Gandhi wrote, “E20 turned into 420 – stealing petrol from the public’s cars!” He alleged that both government-owned and private oil companies were involved in supplying petrol with excessive ethanol content.

Gandhi cited test results showing ethanol concentrations of 31.2 per cent in a sample from Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and 30.5 per cent in a sample from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).

The samples were reportedly collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru. Gandhi also referred to fuel samples associated with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Nayara Energy and Shell.

He questioned why the companies’ internal testing facilities had allegedly failed to provide details about the ethanol content in the samples.

Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi sought clarification on the actual ethanol concentration in petrol being sold to consumers and demanded action against companies allegedly violating the blending norms. He also said the issue would be included in his proposed debate challenge to the Prime Minister.

KARNATAKA GOVERNMENT SEEKS CLARITY ON ETHANOL LEVELS

The controversy follows a dispute between the Karnataka government and oil marketing companies over the ethanol content of petrol supplied through retail outlets in the state.

Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rizwan Arshad had earlier stated that independent testing conducted by Bengaluru-based Shriram Research Institute, an NABL-accredited and ISO-certified laboratory, detected ethanol concentrations above 20 per cent in several samples.

According to the state government, samples were initially submitted to the internal laboratories of IOCL and BPCL. However, the reports did not provide the required ethanol-content details, following which the government sought independent laboratory testing.

OIL COMPANIES REJECT ALLEGATIONS

Public sector oil companies IOCL, BPCL and HPCL have challenged the Karnataka government’s findings, maintaining that the petrol supplied by them complies with the prescribed national standards.

In a joint statement, the companies said E20 petrol distributed across India, including Karnataka, meets the Bureau of Indian Standards specification IS 17021.

They questioned the sampling procedure followed during the October 2026 exercise, arguing that their representatives were not present during sample collection. They also said they had not received retention samples, outlet-specific information or complete laboratory reports.

The companies further questioned the technical documentation accompanying the third-party laboratory certificates, saying the testing methods and supporting details were insufficient to independently verify the reported ethanol concentrations.

They also disputed estimates suggesting annual mileage losses of Rs 62,000 crore and vehicle repair expenses of Rs 39,000 crore, arguing that such calculations required scientific and technical evidence.

The oil companies have requested access to the complete sampling records and corresponding samples so that independent tests can be conducted at an authorised laboratory in the presence of state government representatives.

E20 FUEL POLICY UNDER RENEWED SCRUTINY

The controversy has reignited the debate over ethanol-blended petrol, vehicle compatibility and its possible impact on consumers.

E20 petrol contains up to 20 per cent ethanol blended with conventional petrol. The central government’s blending programme aims to reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil, support domestic ethanol production and lower emissions.

However, concerns have persisted over fuel efficiency and the potential impact of higher ethanol blends on vehicle components, particularly in older vehicles that were not originally designed for E20 fuel.

The Karnataka government has called for action against companies found supplying petrol beyond the prescribed limit and stressed the need for greater transparency in fuel testing and quality monitoring.

With Rahul Gandhi raising the issue nationally and oil marketing companies contesting the laboratory findings, the dispute has placed the spotlight on ethanol-blending standards, testing procedures and safeguards for petrol consumers.