Telangana HC flags aviation fuel adulteration; slaps ₹10L fine on petitioner challenging contract cancellation

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has expressed serious concern over reports of aviation fuel adulteration, warning that such acts could endanger lives both on the road and in the air.

The court questioned whether human safety and life hold any value, stressing the gravity of the situation.

Rs 10 lakh fine imposed

The High Court rejected the petition filed challenging the contract cancellation and stated that tender cancellation orders cannot be contested in this manner.

It imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on the petitioner, underscoring that aviation fuel adulteration is a critical threat to public safety.

Petitioner challenges IOCL Contract Cancellation

P. Gurunadham from Khammam filed a petition against Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s (IOCL) decision to cancel its aviation fuel supply contract. The petition was based on social media reports alleging that tankers were adulterating aviation fuel.

Court questions safety risks

Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka highlighted the potential dangers of adulterated fuel, cautioning that such acts could have catastrophic consequences. The judge asked whether the petitioner would personally travel on a plane using fuel supplied under such circumstances.

Alleged adulteration, no proper investigation

The petitioner’s lawyer argued that IOCL had canceled the contract and forfeited the deposit without conducting a proper investigation. Drivers had only briefly stopped tankers after hearing a suspicious noise, and videos shared online were cited as alleged evidence of fuel tampering.