Mumbai/New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court seeking action over what he describes as a campaign involving allegedly false and manipulated online content connecting him and his family with the government’s E20 ethanol-blended petrol initiative.
The legal move comes after a prolonged social media debate surrounding the fuel policy, with Gadkari alleging that artificial intelligence-generated videos, altered clips and misleading posts have been circulated to create a false narrative about his role in the programme.
The minister’s petition has named Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google and certain unidentified persons as parties in the matter. The Bombay High Court has allowed the civil proceedings to be filed, and the case is expected to come up for detailed hearing on August 5.
According to the petition, Gadkari has been portrayed online as the main person responsible for introducing the ethanol blending programme and has allegedly been accused of benefiting from the policy. The minister has rejected these claims, stating that they misrepresent both his role and the functioning of the government programme.
Dispute Over Responsibility for E20 Programme
Gadkari has maintained that the ethanol blending initiative is handled by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, while his ministry’s role is limited to areas such as transport regulations, automobile standards and issues related to vehicle readiness for blended fuels.
The petition argues that the circulation of edited and AI-generated material has harmed his public image by wrongly suggesting a personal financial connection with the policy.
Parliamentary Records Mentioned in Plea
The minister’s argument has also referred to replies given by government departments in Parliament. According to the submissions, questions related to ethanol procurement, blending targets and implementation have primarily been answered by the Petroleum Ministry, while the Transport Ministry has dealt with matters involving vehicle safety and compatibility.
The government has earlier stated that the ethanol blending programme is administered by the Petroleum Ministry, a point cited by Gadkari to support his position.
Focus on Social Media Platforms
The case has brought attention to the role of online platforms in controlling the spread of deepfakes and digitally altered material. Gadkari’s plea seeks examination of whether platforms such as Meta, X and Google took adequate steps to prevent the circulation of content that he claims was defamatory.
The petition argues that technology companies need stronger mechanisms to address misleading AI-created material targeting public figures.
E20 Policy Faces Political Opposition
The court action comes amid a wider political debate over the country’s move towards E20 petrol. Opposition parties have raised questions about possible conflicts of interest, pointing to alleged links between Gadkari’s family and ethanol-related businesses.
Gadkari has denied the allegations and said that ethanol production, pricing decisions and fuel blending targets are determined through government mechanisms involving the Petroleum Ministry and the Union Cabinet.
He has also argued that his family’s share in ethanol production is limited compared with the overall industry output.
Public Campaign Against E20 Gains Momentum
The dispute has extended beyond political circles, with campaigns demanding changes in the implementation of the ethanol policy. Groups supporting the “E20 Hatao” campaign have called for greater consumer choice, improved fuel information and an independent review of the programme.
Transport groups have also raised concerns and demanded the availability of non-blended petrol options, along with a review of the policy’s impact.
Centre Says E20 Is Suitable for Vehicles
The government has defended the ethanol blending programme, stating that technical studies by institutions including Indian Oil Corporation, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and the Automotive Research Association of India have found E20 fuel suitable for most vehicles.
The Road Transport Ministry has said that while most vehicles do not require major changes to run on E20, some older vehicles may need replacement of specific components during servicing.
With the matter now before the Bombay High Court, the proceedings are likely to examine both the allegations of online defamation and the broader responsibilities of digital platforms in dealing with AI-generated content.
