'Conflict of interest': Congress alleges Gadkari's sons profited from ethanol policy; demand lokpal probe

New Delhi: Congress on Thursday alleged that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s two sons were benefiting financially from the ethanol blending policy and dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a probe by Lokpal into the “conflict of interest” before passing bills for removal of top political executive if detained for at least 30 days in a row.

Addressing a press conference, Media and Publicity Department chairman Pawan Khera claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has “usurped power through ‘vote chori’ (vote theft)”, and “his nephews” have started “note chori” (stealing money)”.

He said Gadkari has been aggressively lobbying for ethanol production since 2014 and four years later, he announced that the government is setting up five plants where ethanol would be made from wood-based products and segregated municipal waste and that petrol and diesel prices would be sold at Rs 55 and 50 respectively.

However, he alleged, 56,75 per cent of 672 crore litres of ethanol were produced from sugarcane and 38.08 per cent from food grains but not a single litre was produced from wood-based products or waste.

“So why is sugarcane-based ethanol being promoted? It is because Gadkari, along with his associates and the RSS, have business interests in sugar mills in Maharashtra,” he claimed.

Alleging conflict of interest, Khera claimed that Nikhil Gadkari-owned Cian Agro Industries Infrastructure and Manas Agro Industries where Sarang Gadkari is a Director are into ethanol supply.

“Cian Agro’s revenue jumped from Rs 18 crore (June 2024) to Rs 523 crore (June 2025), stock price surged 2184 per cent from Rs 37.45 (January 2025) to Rs 638 (August 2025). While the common man’s wages have stagnated and declined, Cian Agro’s financial ascent is staggering,” he alleged.

“Is the E-20 ethanol push a public policy or an alleged windfall for Gadkari’s sons and their companies? Modi vows 'zero tolerance for corruption'. So will the Lokpal dare investigate the allegations on Gadkari and sons, before the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill is passed?” he asked.

Referring to claims of possible fall in fuel prices, Khera said the petrol and diesel prices have increased even as citizens’ worries about engine life, mileage, and maintenance are dismissed by Gadkari, who blames a “petroleum lobby” and calls ethanol a “clean fuel”.

“Vehicles guzzle more fuel, break down sooner, and each litre of ethanol guzzles a staggering 3,000 litres of water…Ethanol blending is linked to 25 per cent reduced engine life, 25 per cent higher maintenance costs, and greater mileage loss than official estimates.

Fuel prices have soared while sugar mills tied to ethanol production laugh all the way to the bank with record profits,” he said.

Referring to Modi's remarks about the money farmers would be making when India achieves 20 per cent ethanol blending, he alleged that the Prime Minister's promise in 2021 has now turned into a “betrayal of the middle class with reduced mileage, higher costs, and no relief at the pump and only benefitting BJP-RSS leaders and their companies”.