Khera said petrol prices climbed from ₹71 in 2014 to nearly ₹95 in 2025, giving no relief, while E20 fuel reportedly cuts engine life, raises maintenance costs, and reduces mileage

New Delhi

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, accusing him of turning India’s ethanol blending programme into a family jackpot that benefits his sons’ companies.

Khera alleged that while ordinary people are burdened with rising fuel costs, companies linked to Gadkari’s family are making massive gains. He claimed Cian Agro Industries, run by Gadkari’s son Nikhil, saw revenues jump from ₹18 crore in June 2024 to ₹523 crore by June 2025, with its stock price soaring over 2,000 percent in eight months. Gadkari’s other son, Sarang, is also a director in an ethanol company.

He argued that despite promises of cheaper fuel, petrol prices have risen from ₹71.41 in 2014 to nearly ₹95 in 2025, offering no relief to the public. Khera further cited reports suggesting E20 ethanol-blended fuel shortens engine life by 25 percent and causes higher maintenance and mileage losses than officially admitted.

The Congress leader accused ethanol plants of bypassing local farmers by purchasing cheaper grains from government stocks instead of paying Minimum Support Prices. According to him, the Food Corporation of India sells rice at ₹22.50 per kg to ethanol firms, even though its economic cost is ₹39.75, harming farmers while draining food reserves.

Khera also raised conflict of interest concerns, pointing out that ethanol production still depends heavily on sugarcane despite earlier promises of using waste and alternative sources. He alleged Gadkari and RSS-linked sugar mills in Maharashtra benefit directly from this policy.

Concluding his remarks, Khera asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether the Lokpal will investigate Gadkari and who is truly gaining from the ethanol scheme.