Nitin Gadkari Takes Legal Action Over E20 Deepfakes Linking Family to Gains

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court against social media posts that falsely linked his family to financial gains from the E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy. The posts, some of which used deepfake technology, alleged that Gadkari's relatives profited from the government's push for higher ethanol blending in fuel. The court granted Gadkari permission to sue Meta, Google, and X (formerly Twitter) for failing to remove the defamatory content. The E20 policy, which mandates 20% ethanol in petrol, is a key part of India's renewable energy strategy. Gadkari has denied any personal or family financial interest in the policy. The case highlights growing concerns over deepfakes and misinformation targeting public figures. Legal experts say the outcome could influence how social media platforms handle defamation complaints in India. The next hearing is expected later this year.