The Congress leader cited laboratory tests showing ethanol levels as high as 31.2 per cent in samples collected from seven districts.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged that petrol sold in Karnataka contains ethanol levels exceeding the mandated 20 per cent limit. Citing test results of samples collected by the Karnataka government, Gandhi claimed that 11 out of 14 samples tested at an accredited lab contained more than 20 per cent ethanol, according to the Deccan Herald.
Gandhi stated that ethanol levels reached 31.2 per cent at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and 30.5 per cent at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). He alleged that both government-owned and private companies, including BPCL, Nayara, and Shell, exceeded the limit and that their own laboratories failed to report the content.
The leader claimed that excessive blending could result in lower mileage, higher maintenance costs, and vehicle damage. He also questioned why fuel stations do not disclose the actual ethanol content to consumers.
Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad said the samples were collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru, and Tumakuru. The tests were conducted at the Shriram Research Institute in Bengaluru.
State-run oil marketing companies, including IOC, BPCL, and HPCL, have disputed the findings. In a joint statement, the companies said their E20 petrol conforms to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications and questioned the sampling and testing methodology used by the state government.
