New Delhi, Nov. 7 -- State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) have rejected Karnataka's allegations that petrol sold at some retail outlets in the state contained ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed 20% limit.

The companies questioned the sampling and testing procedures adopted by the state government, saying the reported findings could not be independently verified against the prescribed technical standards.

In a joint statement on Friday, the three OMCs said the claims that petrol sold at certain outlets contained between 26% and 31% ethanol were not supported by tests conducted in accordance with statutory and...