Gadkari Rejects Conflict Of Interest Claims Over Family's Ethanol Business Links, Warns Of Defamation Action

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has firmly denied allegations that his family's business interests are linked to the government's ethanol-blending push, calling the claims baseless and warning that he could pursue defamation action against those making them.
The denial came during a wide-ranging interview with ABP Live journalist Megha Prasad, in which Gadkari fielded questions on the ongoing controversy around E20 petrol — fuel blended with 20% ethanol — including concerns over reduced mileage, alleged vehicle damage, and the transparency of testing data.

Addressing the conflict-of-interest allegations directly, Gadkari said ethanol contributes less than 10 percent of his family's overall business turnover, pushing back on suggestions that his ministry's ethanol policies are designed to benefit private business interests connected to him. He indicated that anyone repeating unsubstantiated claims of this nature could face legal consequences.

The minister's comments come at a time when E20 petrol has drawn sustained criticism from vehicle owners who claim the ethanol-blended fuel has led to lower fuel efficiency, damaged fuel pumps, and other mechanical issues, particularly in older vehicles not originally designed for higher ethanol content.

On the technical question of mileage, Gadkari acknowledged that ethanol has a lower calorific value than petrol, which naturally results in some difference in fuel efficiency. However, he maintained that this effect is less pronounced in city driving conditions and becomes more noticeable on long highway stretches. He also pushed back on suggestions that this was a recent admission, saying he has consistently spoken about the differing calorific values of the two fuels.
Gadkari further stated that his ministry has not received a single verified complaint establishing that ethanol-blended petrol caused vehicle damage, and urged affected owners to first get their vehicles inspected at authorised dealerships before attributing faults to the fuel. He cited Maruti Suzuki as having reported no complaints related to mileage or component wear linked to ethanol use.

On demands to release the ARAI report said to flag mileage reduction and fuel-system deterioration in older E10-compatible vehicles, the minister said the findings have not been suppressed and are already shared with government departments and the automotive industry, adding that the report could also be accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) route.
Questioned on why fuel prices have not fallen despite ethanol blending, Gadkari clarified that pricing and blending policy fall under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not his own ministry.

The interview also touched on infrastructure concerns, with Gadkari acknowledging potholes on a stretch of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, which he attributed to incomplete drainage work linked to pending land acquisition.

(With inputs from ABP Live)