Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court seeking urgent removal of AI‑generated deepfake videos and manipulated social media posts that falsely allege he and his family personally profited from the government’s E20 ethanol‑blended petrol programme. The minister argues that the content is defamatory, fabricated and malicious, and has been circulated to mislead the public into believing he misused his office for financial gain.
Justice Abhay Ahuja granted Gadkari permission to file a civil suit against Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google LLC, and other intermediaries. Gadkari’s petition, filed through advocate Sandeep S. Ladda, seeks directions for the immediate removal and disabling of the deepfake videos and posts across platforms. According to filings, the manipulated clips portray him as running or benefiting from the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme — claims he says are entirely false.
The legal move follows an FIR filed by the BJP’s social media cell in Nagpur against several online influencers and content creators accused of spreading misinformation about the ethanol policy. The case highlights growing concerns over AI‑generated misinformation, political deepfakes, and the responsibilities of major tech platforms in moderating harmful synthetic content.
Gadkari’s plea argues that unchecked circulation of such videos can damage public trust, distort policy debates, and harm reputations. The court is expected to examine platform liability, takedown obligations, and whether existing IT rules adequately address emerging deepfake threats.