Sugar mill owners to start early crushing under fear of ED probe: Farmers’ leader Raju Shetti

Representational file image. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Farmers’ leader and former MP Raju Shetti on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) alleged that sugar mill owners have been attempting to start mills for crushing at higher sugar price and ethanol purchase price, accusing them of falling to pressure of the ruling government and fear of ED and CBI probes.

“Government is scared that the price of sugar may got to ₹100 due to shortage. I ask why should farmer and mill owners bear the loss,” said Mr. Shetti, alleging that sugar mill owners, to escape ED inquiries and keep the government happy, have been desperate to start the mills.

He warned mill owners not to start mills before November, saying that till the MSP of sugar is not hiked to ₹50, ethanol price to ₹70, and sugarcane MSP to ₹5,000, the mills are to be kept shut.

“Despite hike in petrol price, the ethanol price remains same, this is loss to owners, while crushing immature cane with only eight per cent recovery will reduce both recovery and weight, causing farmers a heavy loss per acre,” he said warning of a kata bandh (weighbridge shutdown) agitation if any of the mills open.