Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has moved the Bombay High Court against alleged defamatory and AI-generated deepfake content circulating on social media that links him and his family to financial gains from India's E20 ethanol blending programme.

The court has permitted Gadkari to file a civil suit against Meta, Google and other unidentified individuals or entities allegedly involved in creating or distributing the content.

Gadkari Denies Allegations

According to the proposed lawsuit, Gadkari said the social media posts falsely claim that he and his family benefited from the government's E20 ethanol policy.

The petition states that the allegations are false, malicious and defamatory, adding that they have no factual basis.

Gadkari also clarified that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is responsible for implementing the ethanol blending programme and the E20 policy, not the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Court Allows Civil Suit

The Bombay High Court granted permission for Gadkari to initiate civil proceedings against the platforms and unidentified persons allegedly responsible for publishing and amplifying the disputed content.

The suit seeks legal action against various forms of online material, including:

• AI-generated deepfake videos
• Social media posts
• Reels
• Tweets
• Videos
• Other digital content allegedly containing defamatory claims

Relief Sought by the Minister

In his petition, Gadkari has requested the court to issue:

• A permanent injunction preventing publication of the disputed content.
• A mandatory injunction directing the removal of the alleged defamatory and AI-generated material from social media platforms.

The case highlights growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to spread misinformation targeting public figures.

Read more: PM Modi Praises Nitin Gadkari’s Contribution on Birthday

What Is the E20 Ethanol Programme?

The Government of India has mandated the sale of petrol blended with up to 20% ethanol (E20) across all states and Union Territories from April 1, 2026.

The policy also requires fuel to maintain a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95, helping reduce engine knocking and improve vehicle performance.

Ethanol, produced from crops such as sugarcane, maize and grains, is considered a cleaner, renewable fuel that helps reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and lowers vehicle emissions.

Significance of the Case

The legal action reflects increasing judicial scrutiny of AI-generated misinformation and deepfake content on digital platforms.

The outcome of the case could influence how technology companies respond to complaints involving manipulated media, online defamation and the misuse of artificial intelligence.