Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has completely dismissed social media rumors claiming that his sons made thousands of crores in profit by investing in ethanol companies, labeling the claims as 100% false. In a viral interview, Gadkari warned that he would file a defamation case against the journalist responsible for spreading this fake news.
While the government has been actively promoting the use of 'ethanol' (a green fuel derived from crops like sugarcane) to protect the environment and reduce expensive oil imports, viral social media claims painted a different picture. However, official financial documents submitted to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have brought the actual truth to light.
What Does Nitin Gadkari's Son's Company Actually Manufacture?
Nitin Gadkari’s son, Nikhil Gadkari, is the Managing Director (MD) of CIAN Agro Industries and Infrastructure Limited. A false narrative was spread that the company exclusively manufactures ethanol. According to documents submitted to the BSE, the company actually produces a wide variety of products across multiple sectors:
Food Products: Processes soybeans and other oilseeds to manufacture edible cooking oil under the brand name 'Amrutdhara'. It also produces spices and mango pulp under the 'CIAN Spices' brand.
Healthcare and Personal Care: Manufactures sanitary pads for women under the brand name 'Klaren'. Additionally, it produces organic soaps, face washes, body lotions, and home-care cleaning products under the 'NEU' and 'OIR' brands.
Energy and Infrastructure: Engages in power generation, LPG distribution, bottling, and the manufacturing of ethanol (E10).
Social Media Claims vs. Actual BSE Report Figures
Several content creators on YouTube and Instagram claimed that the Gadkari family reaped massive personal profits due to the government's mandatory ethanol blending policies. However, the official financial figures for CIAN Agro tell a completely different story:Particulars Figures
Total Revenue for Financial Year 2026 ₹2,234.57 Crore
Earnings from Ethanol (E10) ₹105.87 Crore
Ethanol's Share in Total Revenue Only 4.7%
Ethanol's Share in Total Profit Only 5.3%
Approximately 95.3% of the company's earnings come from other segments like power generation and healthcare. The company's sales for the March 2026 quarter increased to ₹656 crore from ₹490 crore the previous year, bringing the company's total stock market valuation to ₹4,223.35 crore.
Shareholding Pattern: Who Owns How Much?
Nikhil Gadkari's Stake: Although Nikhil Gadkari is the MD of the company, his personal shareholding is less than 1%.
Promoter Companies: Investments have been made through promoter entities, which include Avinash Fuels Private Limited (26.13%), Purti Marketing Private Limited (16.15%), and Purti Contract Farming Private Limited (13.83%).
Public Investment: Retail investors holding shares worth up to ₹2 lakh account for a 13% stake in the company.
Furthermore, Nitin Gadkari’s other son, Sarang Gadkari, is associated with Manas Agro, a company that generates electricity from sugarcane and produces bio-fertilizers.
The State of the Ethanol Industry in India
The ethanol sector in India is growing rapidly as part of an initiative to reduce crude oil imports. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), India's total ethanol production capacity has currently reached 2,000 crore liters.
