Bombay High Court Permits Nitin Gadkari To Sue X, Meta, Google Over Alleged Deepfake Posts Linking Him To E20 Petrol Policy

The Bombay High Court on Monday (July 27) permitted Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari to sue X, Meta, Google and unknown others over the alleged defamatory, deepfake and AI generated posts linking him to the Ethanol-blended fuel controversy. 

Single-judge Justice Abhay Ahuja granted the leave for Gakdari to proceed with filing a substantive civil suit against the concerned respondents and seeking appropriate reliefs for removal of the alleged defamatory content available on social media platforms and the internet. 

Gadkari petitioned the single-judge bench under clause XII of the Letters Patent, which is a procedural requirement wherein permission of the court is sought when part of the cause of action arises outside the territorial jurisdiction of the High Court. He has moved the High Court through advocate Sandeep S Ladda.

A detailed order of Justice Ahuja is yet to be made available. 

In his proposed suit, Gadkari has pointed out that in 2003, the then Central Government had introduced the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) as a national policy initiative aimed at blending ethanol with petrol in a phased manner. And in 2025 to 2026, the present regime achieved implementation of 20 per cent of the ethanol blending with petrol (E20), which is exclusively looked after by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which has also issued official press releases, public statements and clarifications conceening the objectives, implementation and progress of the EBP.

He has pointed out that he has been the Minister of Road Transport since 2014 till date and has no role in the E20 policy decision making. However, unknown users, the minister said, have created, published and circulated defamatory and deep fake Content, falsely portraying him as being responsible for, and personally connected with, the implementation of the EBP and making numerous abusive, scandalous, and defamatory allegations against him.

"The Defamatory Content further falsely, maliciously and without any basis whatsoever alleges that the Plaintiff and/or members of his family, have derived undue pecuniary benefits from the implementation of the EBP, thereby, inter-alia, insinuating corruption, nepotism, conflict of interest, abuse of official position, misuse of governmental authority and other acts of impropreity." the plea reads. 

In his plea, Gadkari has highlighted at least 24 such allegedly defamatory posts linking him to the E20 controversy and has urged the court to order removal of the same.

"The purpose and object of filing the Suit is not to curtail or prevent the public at large from engaging in discussion, debate, analysis or fair, just and bona fide criticism of any decision taken by the Plaintiff himself or by his office. The Plaintiff respectfully submits that he does not seek to stifle or restrain fair criticism, dissent, debate or bona fide expression of opinion concerning his public life, governmental policies or official functions. However, the Defamatory Content is ex facie false, fabricated, malicious, abusive and grossly defamatory per se, and constitutes defamation in law. Further, the Deep Fake Content exploits the Plaintiff's personality and publicity rights, without his knowledge, consent or authorisation," Gadkari has said in the proposed suit. 

Besides this, Gadkari has also demanded damages to the tune of Rs 11 crore. His suit is likely to be listed by Justice Arif Doctor in due course. 

Case Title: Nitin Gadkari vs Meta Platforms (LPETN(L)/25170/2026)