E20 Petrol Scam
E20 Petrol Scam has cast a shadow over the nation, as a new, mandatory fuel policy grips every vehicle owner, threatening to unravel the very fabric of their daily lives. The Modi government has “suddenly rolled out E20 fuel all over the country. This fuel has 80% petrol and 20% ethanol. But the surprising thing is that this isn’t optional. Whether you like it or not, you will have to put this in your petrol vehicles,” Dhruv Rathee revealed.
This swift, unyielding mandate leaves millions with a chilling question: Who truly benefits from this sudden shift?
Allegations of Crony Capitalism on E20 Petrol Scam
The answer, whispered in the corridors of power and echoed on social media, points to a dark truth.
“And what is even more surprising is the person who benefited the most from all this. A powerful union minister in the central government, whose sons are the owners of ethanol-producing sugar plants,” Dhruv Rathee observed.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the fiercest proponent of E20 fuel, finds himself at the heart of a storm of allegations. Pawan Khera, a Congress spokesperson, starkly accused:
“अगर ई20 बढ़ावा देना पब्लिक पॉलिसी है तो इसका फायदा सिर्फ गडकरी के बेटे को ही क्यों मिल रहा है?”
(If promoting E20 is public policy, then why is only Gadkari’s son benefiting from it?)
Through the Purti Group, Gadkari’s family firms — including Manas Agro Industries and CIAN Agro Industries, run by his sons Sarang and Nikhil — witnessed explosive gains.
- CIAN Agro’s revenue: ₹1 crore in Q1 FY2014 → ₹510 crore in Q1 FY2026
- Stock price surge: ₹40 → ₹668 in just 16 months
Gadkari’s Defense: The Lobby Wars
But Gadkari vehemently denies the accusations, casting himself as a victim in a larger, unseen battle.
Nitin Gadkari declared:
“उनके खिलाफ जो भी बातें हो रही हैं वह एक राजनीतिक कैंपेन है जो उन्हें निशाना बनाने के लिए चलाया गया है”
(Whatever is being said against him is a political campaign run to target him)
He further claimed it was a “paid campaign”, cryptically adding:
“हर जगह कोई ना कोई लॉबी होती है… पेट्रोल लॉबी बहुत अमीर और ताकतवर होती है”
(There is a lobby everywhere… the petrol lobby is very rich and powerful)
Even Attorney General R Venkat Ramani told the Supreme Court that the PIL against E20 was a front for foreign lobbies trying to dictate India’s fuel choices.
The Common Citizen’s Nightmare
Yet the chilling reality for the Indian vehicle owner paints a darker picture.
- Mileage drop: “My car’s mileage used to be 12 kmpl, now it has reduced to 9.5,” lamented one user.
- Surveys: 2 out of 3 vehicle owners reported reduced mileage, with 44% facing a 10%+ drop.
- Corrosion & damage: Ethanol absorbs water, causing rust in tanks and damaging rubber pipes, filters, and carburetors.
- One biker revealed: “This came out of my bike’s carburetor… my bike was parked for just 2–3 months. Never happened before.”
Repair costs can climb to ₹35,000, with warranties voided and insurance claims denied.
Broken Promises of Cheap Fuel
The government claims environmental benefits and farmer welfare, but the people feel betrayed.
Nitin Gadkari had famously promised:
“आप ₹120 जो पेट्रोल ले रहे हैं उसका भाव हम ₹15 लीटर करेंगे”
(The petrol you buy at ₹120 will be made available at ₹15 per litre)
But reality struck hard — E20 fuel sells at the same price as normal petrol, forcing citizens to pay more for less value.
Dhruv Rathee asked the haunting question:
“Are these benefits passed to the consumers? Or are they just using the citizens to cover up their losses?”
India’s rushed 3-year E20 rollout, compared to Brazil’s cautious 50-year transition, has only amplified fears.
The Cry for Justice
The public outcry grows louder:
- “मिलॉर्ड क्या मुझे अपना पेट्रोल चूज़ करने का भी अधिकार नहीं इस देश में?”
(My Lord, do I not even have the right to choose my petrol in this country?) - “क्यों मैं जो अपनी पसंद की गाड़ी… उसको जबरदस्ती वो फ्यूल पिलाऊं जो वो पीने लायक नहीं है?”
(Why should I forcefully feed my beloved vehicle a fuel it cannot digest?)
Conclusion: A Nation in Shadows
The E20 Petrol Scam is not merely a policy debate — it is a thrilling saga of power, profit, and betrayal.
As the shadows lengthen and the costs mount, the nation holds its breath, wondering:
Will the truth ever emerge? Or will the silence of the “paid mainstream media” ensure the powerful thrive while the common man suffers in the darkness?
