Nitin Gadkari Moves Bombay High Court Over Alleged E20 Policy Deepfakes, Legal Action Against Meta and Social Media Posts
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has moved the Bombay High Court over alleged fake news and deepfake videos related to the E20 ethanol policy. The court allowed a civil suit against Meta and others.
Mumbai: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has initiated legal action against alleged fake news, deepfake videos, and misleading social media posts related to the E20 ethanol petrol policy. Gadkari alleged that false propaganda claimed he and his family had financially benefited from the E20 policy. The Bombay High Court has permitted him to file a civil suit against Meta, other social media platforms, and unknown persons. Meanwhile, an FIR has already been registered in Nagpur against four social media influencers over alleged misinformation regarding the E20 policy.
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Nitin Gadkari Alleges False Claims Over E20 Ethanol Policy
In his petition, Nitin Gadkari stated that false claims were being circulated on social media alleging that his family had benefited from the E20 ethanol programme.
He clarified that the ethanol-blended fuel policy is being implemented by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and that neither he nor his family has any personal or financial interest in the policy.
Bombay High Court Allows Civil Suit
The Bombay High Court granted Gadkari permission to file a civil suit against Meta, other social media platforms, and unidentified persons.
During the hearing, Gadkari’s lawyer argued that the alleged deepfake videos and false social media posts were also being viewed in Mumbai, giving the Bombay High Court jurisdiction to hear the matter.
After hearing the arguments, Justice Abhay Ahuja allowed Gadkari to proceed with the civil suit.
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FIR Registered in Nagpur Against Four Influencers
Separately, an FIR was registered two weeks ago in Nagpur in connection with the same matter.
Police registered the FIR against four social media influencers for allegedly spreading false information against the Union Minister regarding the E20 policy.
The FIR names:
- YouTuber and politician Manish Kashyap
- Instagram page “Desi Boys”
- Harshit Rathi
- Other unnamed individuals
What Is the E20 Fuel Policy?
The E20 fuel policy continues to be a topic of discussion across the country.
Under the policy:
- E20 fuel contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol.
The Central Government has stated that E20 fuel is safe for vehicles specifically designed to use it.
However, some vehicle owners, automobile experts, and social media influencers have expressed concerns that the fuel may negatively affect the performance of older vehicles.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court over alleged fake news, deepfake videos, and misleading posts claiming that he and his family benefited from the E20 ethanol policy. The court has allowed him to file a civil suit against Meta, other social media platforms, and unknown persons. Meanwhile, an FIR registered in Nagpur names Manish Kashyap, Desi Boys, Harshit Rathi, and others over alleged misinformation related to the E20 policy. The debate over the E20 fuel policy continues across India.
