Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Team Bharat Seeks CBI Probe Into Sugar Exports, Ethanol Diversion
Team Bharat has asked India’s main investigation agency to examine sugar policy decisions.
The group is led by Tehseen Poonawalla.
It says India exported a lot of sugar while also sending some sugar-making material to produce ethanol.
Team Bharat believes this may have reduced the amount of sugar available inside the country.
It says lower stocks could have pushed prices higher for consumers.
The group also suspects that some businesses may have benefited from these decisions.
It wants investigators to check records, money transfers and government forecasts.
The group says it may go to court if the CBI does not respond.
Tehseen Poonawalla-led Team Bharat has asked the CBI to investigate India’s sugar and ethanol policies from 2021 to 2025.
The group questioned whether high sugar exports and ethanol diversion contributed to falling domestic stocks and higher consumer prices.
Its complaint alleges possible cartelisation, distorted forecasts, regulatory capture and public-private collusion, without establishing those claims as facts.
Team Bharat cited 110 lakh metric tonnes of exports in 2021-22 and 63 lakh metric tonnes in 2022-23 before restrictions were imposed.
The group requested scrutiny of financial records, supply ledgers, export quotas and ethanol targets, and threatened court action if the CBI does not act.
- Who
- Tehseen Poonawalla-led Team Bharat filed the complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation.
- What
- The group requested a probe into sugar exports, ethanol diversion, domestic stock depletion and alleged public-private collusion.
- When
- The requested investigation covers decisions made between 2021 and 2025; the representation was sent on Friday.
- Where
- The complaint concerns India’s sugar and ethanol policy and was submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
- Why
- Team Bharat says high exports and ethanol diversion may have weakened domestic supplies, increased prices and benefited private interests.
- Requested agency
- Central Bureau of Investigation
- Period under review
- 2021 to 2025
- Sugar exports in 2021-22
- 110 lakh metric tonnes
- Sugar exports in 2022-23
- 63 lakh metric tonnes
- Ethanol diversion cited
- Between 2.4 million and 5 million metric tonnes of sugar equivalent per season
- Estimated annual domestic consumption
- 28 million to 29 million metric tonnes
- Requested legal action
- A Preliminary Enquiry or Regular Case, including scrutiny under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Essential Commodities Act