As executive director of the country's top oil policy body, the Oil Coordination Committee (OCC), K.L.N. Sastri tracked adulteration for years. He was sent back to his parent company, Indian Oil Corporation, in 2001 when his investigations became too hot for its beneficiaries and the petroleum ministry. Sastri took voluntary retirement in October 2002. Excerpts from an interview:
Official studies indicate adulteration of petrol, diesel and lubricants results in an annual loss of over Rs 10,000 crore to the exchequer. Is this true?
Is adulteration done by imported oil products or domestic petro products?
Apart from oil PSUs who else is involved in the spurious fuel market?
Were GAIL's byproducts like pentane diverted into the adulteration market?
Did you urge the ministry to act against the use of super LDO as an adulterant?
