In a landmark ruling, the Raipur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ruled in favour of a car owner who claimed that E20 petrol caused repeated engine problems in his Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid. The consumer court directed Maruti Suzuki and its dealer to either replace the vehicle with a new E20-compatible model or refund approximately ₹20.5 lakh. The Commission also awarded ₹1 lakh as compensation for mental harassment and litigation expenses. The court observed that consumers cannot be expected to avoid E20 fuel when it is widely available at petrol pumps across the country. The ruling has sparked fresh debate over vehicle compatibility with ethanol-blended fuel and the responsibilities of automobile manufacturers. Maruti Suzuki has denied that E20 fuel caused the damage, stating that the vehicle is E20-compatible and attributing the issue to fuel contamination. The company has announced plans to challenge the consumer court’s decision.