Gadkari said during an interview on Monday that the numbers being shared online were “completely wrong” and lacked a reliable factual basis. He cautioned that information appearing in internet searches or social media posts should not be treated as verified corporate data.
“The figures being quoted about the income and profits of my son Nikhil Gadkari’s company are entirely incorrect,” he said. Gadkari added that he would approach the courts if the disputed numbers were repeated as established facts.
The comments came amid intensified scrutiny of businesses linked to his family as debate continued over the government’s ethanol-blending programme. Critics have questioned whether companies connected to the minister’s relatives benefited from policies promoting ethanol production and the nationwide supply of petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol, commonly known as E20.
Nikhil Gadkari is associated with CIAN Agro Industries and Infrastructure Limited, a Nagpur-based listed company operating in agro-processing and related businesses. Its activities include the manufacture and trading of products such as edible oils, sugar, spices, frozen vegetables and other agricultural commodities.
Claims circulating on digital platforms have cited sharp increases in the company’s turnover and profitability, often linking its performance directly to ethanol policy. Gadkari did not provide an alternative set of financial numbers during the interview but insisted that the figures being used to support allegations against his family were inaccurate.
Publicly listed companies are required to submit quarterly and annual financial statements, shareholding information and material business disclosures to stock exchanges. However, comparisons circulating online can become misleading when standalone and consolidated accounts, quarterly sales, annual turnover, operating income and exceptional gains are presented without distinction.
Gadkari has separately denied allegations of a conflict of interest in the ethanol programme. He said his family’s sugar-related businesses existed before the expansion of ethanol blending and maintained that their contribution to national ethanol output was negligible.
The minister put his family’s share at about 0.07 per cent of total production. He said the country produces nearly 1,500 crore litres of ethanol annually through about 550 manufacturing units, arguing that businesses connected to him were too small to exercise meaningful influence over national policy.
Ethanol policy, he said, was developed through consultations involving the petroleum ministry, the Union Cabinet, technical experts and scientific assessments rather than through decisions taken by his road transport ministry alone.
The controversy has also drawn attention to consumer concerns about E20 petrol, particularly its compatibility with vehicles manufactured before higher ethanol blends became standard. Some motorists have complained about lower mileage, deterioration of rubber components and possible long-term effects on engines and fuel systems.
Gadkari challenged critics to produce verified examples of vehicles damaged specifically by ethanol-blended petrol. He said manufacturers including Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Tata Motors and Mahindra had not reported evidence establishing that E20 was responsible for widespread vehicle failures.
He also said motorists who believed their vehicles had suffered damage should file complaints with dealers and the road transport ministry. Any defect occurring during the warranty period would have to be addressed by the manufacturer or dealer, while dissatisfied consumers could approach consumer courts.
The minister said no formal complaint conclusively linking vehicle damage to ethanol had reached his ministry. He acknowledged that dozens of videos on the issue had appeared online but alleged that several contained misleading or unverified claims.
Vehicle compatibility remains a central point in the debate. Newer models are increasingly designed for E20, while older vehicles were generally calibrated for petrol containing lower ethanol levels. Automobile manufacturers have advised owners to follow prescribed maintenance schedules and consult authorised service centres where compatibility questions arise.
The government has promoted ethanol blending as a way to reduce crude oil imports, cut emissions and create additional demand for crops including sugarcane and maize. The programme has expanded rapidly after the country advanced its target for achieving 20 per cent blending.
Gadkari described ethanol as part of a broader alternative-fuels strategy that includes hydrogen, biofuels and other lower-emission technologies. He said the programme was connected to energy security, rural incomes and reduced dependence on imported petroleum.
