New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has initiated legal proceedings before the Bombay High Court against major technology companies, including Meta Platforms, X Corp and Google, alleging that manipulated digital content has falsely linked him and his family to the Centre’s ethanol-blended petrol programme and damaged his reputation.
The petition, which also names unidentified individuals, follows months of social media posts, AI-generated videos, deepfakes and memes that allegedly portrayed Gadkari as the driving force behind India’s E20 fuel policy while suggesting that he or his family benefited financially from its implementation.
The Bombay High Court has permitted the filing of the civil suit, with the matter scheduled to be heard on August 5.
Minister Disputes Claims Over Policy Role
In his plea, Gadkari argues that he has been wrongly associated with the formulation and execution of the ethanol blending programme. He contends that the initiative is overseen by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, whereas the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which he heads, is responsible only for matters concerning vehicle regulations, road transport and fuel compatibility.
According to the petition, the circulation of fabricated videos and AI-generated content has created a misleading impression that he influenced the policy for personal gain, an allegation he has consistently denied.
Parliamentary Replies Cited
The petition also refers to responses given during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. While the Petroleum Ministry has addressed several questions related to ethanol procurement, blending targets and implementation, the Road Transport Ministry has largely responded to queries concerning vehicle performance and compatibility with E20 fuel.
In one written reply, the Road Transport Ministry reiterated that the ethanol blending programme falls under the jurisdiction of the Petroleum Ministry, reinforcing Gadkari’s position that his ministry does not frame or administer the policy.
Why Tech Platforms Have Been Named
Instead of limiting the legal action to individual social media users, Gadkari has sought judicial scrutiny of the role played by major digital platforms. The petition argues that companies operating online platforms have a responsibility to address the spread of manipulated and misleading content, particularly when AI-generated material has the potential to harm an individual’s reputation.
The lawsuit seeks accountability from Meta, X and Google over the alleged circulation of defamatory content on their platforms.
Political Debate Surrounding E20
The legal action comes against the backdrop of an ongoing political dispute over the government’s ethanol blending programme. Since E20 petrol became the standard fuel across the country in April 2026, opposition parties, particularly the Congress, have questioned whether there could be a conflict of interest because of alleged links between members of Gadkari’s family and ethanol-related businesses.
Gadkari has repeatedly rejected those allegations, maintaining that decisions relating to ethanol procurement, pricing, blending targets and implementation are taken by the Petroleum Ministry and approved by the Union Cabinet. He has also stated that his family’s involvement in ethanol production represents only a small share of the country’s overall output.
‘E20 Hatao’ Campaign Expands
The controversy has also evolved into a broader public campaign. Under the banner of “E20 Hatao,” several groups have demanded that consumers be given the option to purchase conventional petrol alongside E20 fuel. Organisations advocating changes to the policy have also sought clearer fuel labelling and an independent scientific assessment of ethanol blending.
The Delhi Taxi and Tour Operators Association has joined the debate, calling for the availability of non-blended petrol and announcing plans to press for a review of the current policy.
Government Defends Ethanol-Blended Fuel
The Centre has maintained that E20 fuel is safe for widespread use. Citing studies conducted by Indian Oil Corporation, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and the Automotive Research Association of India, the government has informed Parliament that most vehicles can operate on E20 without significant performance issues. It has, however, noted that certain older BS-III vehicles may require replacement of some rubber components during routine maintenance.
The outcome of Gadkari’s case is expected to draw attention not only to the legal responsibilities of digital platforms in dealing with AI-generated content but also to the continuing public and political debate over India’s transition to ethanol-blended fuel.
