Gadkari Moves Court Over E20 Posts

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court over alleged defamatory social media posts linking him and his family to the E20 petrol policy. Gadkari claimed that false content was being circulated online, alleging that his family had personally benefited from ethanol-blended fuel. On Monday (July 27), the High Court permitted him to file a defamation suit against Meta, Google, and other social media platforms.

Appearing for Gadkari, his counsel argued that the defamatory content was accessible in Mumbai, giving the High Court jurisdiction to hear the matter. The court accepted the argument and granted permission to proceed with the defamation case. Gadkari alleged that AI generated deepfake videos and manipulated content using his name, photograph, and voice were being used to spread false claims.

Gadkari clarified that he is not against legitimate criticism in a democracy but is seeking action only against false allegations and deepfake content that damages his reputation. E20 fuel is a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, introduced by the Centre to reduce crude oil imports, lower emissions, and promote domestic biofuels. However, some vehicle owners have raised concerns over its compatibility with older vehicles.