BPCL deletes 'Let the Facts Speak' tweet after Mysuru pump test shows 33% ethanol, not 20%
PTC Web Desk: Bharat Petroleum’s attempt to push back against Karnataka’s ethanol allegations has landed the company in an awkward spot. A tweet put out under its “Let the Facts Speak” campaign on X was taken down within hours, but not before screenshots started doing the rounds.
The post, shared on Sunday, said a test at a petrol pump in Mysuru confirmed the fuel met the mandated 20 per cent ethanol limit. Sharp-eyed users quickly noticed something else: the test result in the image actually showed ethanol content at around 33 per cent, far above the permitted level.
BPCL removed the tweet soon after. By then, it was too late. Screenshots spread quickly across X, with many users accusing the state-run company of double standards and asking why a post meant to defend its fuel ended up exposing a bigger problem. Several people also demanded that the company and the government explain what happened.
What Karnataka alleged
The controversy comes days after the Congress-led Karnataka government made a serious claim. According to the state, 63 petrol samples collected from outlets across Karnataka, including those of IOCL, Shell and HPCL, contained more ethanol than the 20 per cent limit. Officials warned that such over-blending could mean heavy financial losses for ordinary motorists.
The allegation has turned into yet another political fight between the BJP and the Congress.
Kerala starts its own checks
Kerala, also governed by the Congress, has begun random inspections at petrol pumps. For now, the drive covers four districts: Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur. Minister Anoop Jacob said the checks would be extended to other regions if the first phase throws up violations.
Samples will be picked at random and sent to a government laboratory, with results expected within 10 days. The UDF government has also warned that outlets found breaking the rules could be sealed, and those responsible could face prosecution.
For now, neither the deleted tweet nor the test results have been fully explained, and the row looks set to continue as more lab reports come in.
Also Read | Shocker: Random sampling reveals 31% ethanol in petrol, way above the 20% limit
- PTC NEWS
