The Bombay High Court has scheduled a hearing on 5 August 2026 for a civil suit filed by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The suit seeks ₹11 crore in damages against Meta, X, Google and unknown users for circulating a deepfake that falsely links Gadkari to the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP).
Key Developments
- Bench of Justice Arif Doctor ordered the minister’s advocate to serve copies of the suit to all respondents and adjourned the matter.
- Justice Abhay Ahuja highlighted that the EBP was introduced in 2003 and that the government achieved 20% blending (E20) between 2025‑26.
- Gadkari, who has been the Union Minister of Road Transport since 2014, denied any role in the E20 policy.
- The plea identifies 24 social‑media posts that allegedly defame Gadkari and link him to the E20 controversy.
- The minister seeks removal of the posts and monetary compensation for reputational harm.
Important Facts
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas oversees the EBP and has issued press releases clarifying its implementation. The deepfake content was AI‑generated by unknown users and spread widely on social platforms, prompting the minister’s legal action.
Exam Relevance
1. Legal & Institutional Framework: The case illustrates the role of high courts in adjudicating defamation and technology‑related disputes, a topic under GS2 (Polity).
2. Policy Continuity: Understanding the evolution of the