New Delhi, July 27, 2026

The Bombay High Court has cleared the way for Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to initiate a civil suit against several social media platforms and unidentified individuals over content allegedly linking him and his family to financial gains from the Centre's E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme. The case highlights growing concerns over the spread of AI-generated misinformation and its impact on public figures, while also raising questions about accountability on digital platforms.

According to the plea, Gadkari has accused Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram, X, Google, and unidentified accounts of hosting or circulating defamatory posts, edited videos, deepfakes, and other manipulated content. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have also been named as respondents. Gadkari has maintained that the campaign is false, malicious, and designed to mislead the public while damaging his reputation.

In his petition, Gadkari stated that the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, including the E20 initiative, falls under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and not the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He asserted that he has no role in framing, implementing, or administering the policy, making the allegations against him factually incorrect and baseless. The suit seeks the removal of the disputed content and action against those responsible for creating and circulating it, along with directions to prevent any further publication.

The High Court has permitted Gadkari to institute the civil suit, while his request for interim relief will be considered during the next stage of the proceedings. The case comes as India's Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme continues to play a significant role in promoting renewable fuel adoption, strengthening energy security, supporting farmers, and reducing environmental impact.