The Supreme Court today said that rampant adulteration of diesel was taking place in petrol pumps and millions of litres of kerosene were being siphoned off.
A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur observed that it is something which is ampant and unfortunate and very powerful people like politicians have petrol pumps. The bench said they can tamper with the machine and they are the people who will resist the change.
The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, made the remarks while ordering a probe by a joint secretary rank officer of Ministry of Petroleum against Uttar Pradesh Samajwadi Party MLA, Devendra alias Mukesh Agarwal, who has been accused by his rival BSP leader Seema Upadhyay of indulging in adulteration of diesel at petrol pumps owned or operated by him through benami names.
The court asked Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar to file an affidavit on behalf of the Ministry spelling out measures to stop adulteration and siphoning off of subsidised kerosene.
The bench directed that the inquiry report be submitted to the apex court within six weeks. It also asked the Ministry to examine various options to check adulteration in petrol and diesel including the possibility of installing machines which can detect adulteration.