SC concerned over "rampant" adulteration of petro products

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) "Rampant" adulteration of dieselwas taking place in petrol pumps and millions of litres ofkerosene were being siphoned off as owners and dealers were"very powerful people like politicians", the Supreme Courtsaid today. "It is not a happy situation. It is something which isrampant and unfortunate and very powerful people likepoliticians have petrol pumps. They can tamper with themachine. They are the people who will resist the change," abench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur observed. "Go to small and rural areas, all types of people are atplay. Criminals and politicians," the bench said whileexpressing serious concern over the matter. "How do you prevent adulteration? How to stop it? Isthere any strategy," it asked, adding that "millions of litresof kerosene is siphoned off." The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkarand D Y Chandrachud, made the remarks while ordering a probeby a joint secretary rank officer of Ministry of Petroleumagainst Uttar Pradesh Samajwadi Party MLA, Devendra aliasMukesh Agarwal, who has been accused by his rival BSP leaderSeema Upadhyay of indulging in adulteration of diesel atpetrol pumps owned or operated by him through benami names. It also asked Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar to file anaffidavit on behalf of the Ministry spelling out measures tostop adulteration and siphoning off of subsidised kerosene. The bench, which did not pay heed to Kumar’s submissionthat private interest was being raised under the garb of PILby a rival politician, directed that the inquiry report besubmitted to the apex court within six weeks. It said the inquiry officer should send notice toAgarwal, an MLA from Sadabad in Hathras district, to get hisresponse on the allegation of Upadhyay, also a former MP. It asked the Ministry to examine various options to checkadulteration in petrol and diesel including the possibility ofinstalling machines which can detect adulteration. Upadhyay’s counsel Rajeev Sharma said it was not aquestion of political rivalry between the two leaders but anattempt was being made to show how rampant adulteration inpetroleum products was and how the "oil mafia" works. (more)PTI MNL ABA RKSARC