Mumbai | July 27, 2026
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has received approval from the Bombay High Court to institute a civil defamation suit against major digital platforms—including Meta (Facebook and Instagram), X (formerly Twitter), and Google—over the spread of misleading content and AI-generated deepfakes.
The lawsuit addresses online posts and edited videos alleging that Gadkari and his family financially benefit from the Central Government’s E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme.
Key Legal & Case Details
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Petitioner: Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways
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Respondents: Meta, X, Google, unidentified digital entities/pages, MeitY, and DoT
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Forum: Bombay High Court
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Core Grievance: Dissemination of false, malicious, and AI-generated deepfake content linking the Minister to commercial gains from the E20 policy
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Primary Relievance Sought: Immediate take-down orders for deepfake materials, injunctions against further circulation, and legal restraint against creators and publishers
Policy Jurisdiction & Facts
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No Administrative Role: Gadkari’s plea clarifies that the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme—including E20—is formulated and administered entirely under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
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Court Action: The Bombay High Court permitted the filing of the civil suit, with hearings on interim relief scheduled for the subsequent phase of proceedings.
