Nitin Gadkari moves Bombay HC over social media posts linking him, family to alleged E20 business gains
Mumbai, July 27
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court against social media posts linking him and his family to alleged E20-related business gains.
According to Gadkari's lawsuit filed in the Bombay High Court, the disputed content on social media includes posts, deepfake pictures and videos, among others, allegedly linking him and his family to profits from the E20 ethanol blending programme.
The lawsuit filed by him also emphasises that the ethanol blending policy is being administered by the Petroleum Ministry.
The Bombay High Court has allowed Gadkari to file a civil suit against Meta and other social media platforms, as well as unidentified entities allegedly being used to spread misinformation against Gadkari and his family.
The development comes amid growing public scrutiny over ethanol-blended fuel, particularly E20 petrol, following claims on social media that the higher ethanol blend had caused performance issues and damage in some vehicles.
Meanwhile, automakers and government-backed testing agencies have maintained that vehicles certified for E20 are designed and tested to safely use the fuel, while attributing isolated cases of vehicle issues to factors such as fuel contamination and maintenance-related concerns rather than the ethanol blend itself.
The Centre has been promoting higher ethanol blending in petrol as part of its broader strategy to reduce the country's dependence on crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions and support domestic production of ethanol from sugarcane and grain-based feedstocks.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm tired of these baseless allegations. Gadkari has always been a hardworking minister who focuses on infrastructure and green energy. The ethanol blending program is for the country's benefit, not personal gain. People need to stop spreading hatred.
I'm not Indian, but following this story. Seems like a classic case of defamation on social media. Glad the Bombay HC is allowing him to sue Meta and others. Deepfakes are a huge threat to public figures everywhere. Good move by the minister.
Gadkari should also focus on why E20 is being questioned. Many car owners are reporting issues with engines and mileage. Even though automakers say it's safe, people are facing real problems. Hope the court case also brings clarity on the fuel quality issue.
As someone who works in energy policy, I appreciate the push for ethanol blending. But these allegations, if false, harm genuine efforts. Glad to see legal recourse being taken. Let the courts decide what's true. Social media isn't the place for this.
Deepfakes are terrifying. Imagine someone creating fake videos of you for political reasons. This is a serious issue that needs urgent regulation. Gadkari ji is setting a precedent by taking this to court. Support him on this. 👏
R We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.