The Bombay High Court on 27 July 2026 allowed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to file a civil suit against Meta, Google, X and other unnamed entities. The suit challenges social media posts that falsely link him to the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP).
Key Developments
- Justice Abhay Ahuja granted leave to file a substantive suit seeking removal of the defamatory posts.
- The petition was filed under Clause XII of the Letters Patent.
- Gadkari intends to approach the Supreme Court for further relief.
- The suit seeks damages of ₹11 crore and removal of at least 24 identified posts.
- The case will be listed before Justice Arif Doctor.
Important Facts
- The E20 target was reached in the fiscal year 2025‑2026.
- The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued official press releases confirming progress.
- Gadkari clarified that, although he has been the Road Transport Minister since 2014, he has no role in EBP policy decisions.
- The alleged posts accuse him and his family of “undue pecuniary benefits,” corruption, nepotism, and abuse of official position.
Exam Relevance
This case touches upon several UPSC topics: judicial powers of High Courts and the Supreme Court (GS2), the role of a Union Minister and separation of policy domains (GS2), the EBP as an energy‑security and environmental initiative (GS3), and the legal recourse against defamation on digital platforms, linking to media regulation and cyber law (GS2).
Way Forward
The High Court will issue a detailed order soon. If the suit proceeds, the court may direct removal of the identified posts and award damages. A Supreme Court appeal could set precedent on jurisdictional issues and the liability of global tech platforms for defamatory content in India.