Petrol adulteration is rampant, politicos also part of mafia: Apex court

SOLICITOR GENERAL RANJIT KUMAR TOLD THE COURT THAT OVER 3,800 CASES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED AGAINST DEALERS SINCE 2013

Terming the adulteration of petrol and diesel a serious problem, the Supreme Court on Friday said that powerful people including politicians were a part of the mafia.

“Huge quantity of kerosene is getting siphoned off as owners and dealers are tempted to mix it with petrol as the government provides it at subsidised rates. Unfortunately, very powerful people like politicians have petrol pumps. They will resist a change,” a bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur told solicitor general Ranjit Kumar, while hearing a public interest petition in the case.

Filed by former MP Seema Upadhayay, the petition accuses a sitting Samajwadi Party legislator from Uttar Pradesh of selling adulterated petrol.

On hearing the petitioner’s counsel, the bench ordered a probe by a joint secretary rank officer of ministry of petroleum against Devendra Agarwal, MLA from Sadabad in Hathras district.

Upadhayay has also alleged that Agarwal operates pumps through benami names. Inquiry report will be presented before the court in six weeks.

The court also asked the solicitor general to file an affidavit on behalf of the ministry spelling out measures to stop adulteration and siphoning off of subsidised kerosene. The ministry was asked to examine various options to check adulteration including the possibility of installing machines that can stop dispensation of petrol if it’s mixed with an adulterant.

Kumar informed the court that over 3,800 cases have been registered against dealers since 2013 for indulging in sale of adulterated fuel. Uttar Pradesh had the maximum cases — 672 — followed by 364 in Madhya Pradesh.