Mumbai, August 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed social media platforms to remove defamatory and AI-generated deepfake content that allegedly falsely linked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and his family members with the Centre’s E20 ethanol blending programme.
The order was passed while hearing a civil suit filed by Gadkari against major digital platforms, including Meta, X and Google/YouTube, along with unidentified individuals accused of creating and circulating the disputed content.
According to the petition, several manipulated videos, deepfake material and misleading posts were circulated on social media platforms, alleging that Gadkari and his family had received financial benefits from the government’s ethanol-blended fuel policy.
Gadkari argued that the content was fabricated, malicious and intended to harm his reputation by spreading false claims.
In his plea, the Union Minister clarified that the Ethanol Blending Programme, including the rollout of E20 ethanol-mixed petrol, comes under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and does not fall within the jurisdiction of the ministry headed by him.
The petition stated that allegations suggesting any personal financial benefit to Gadkari or his family from the policy were factually incorrect and defamatory.
Seeking urgent relief from the court, Gadkari had requested the removal of the objectionable content from online platforms and also sought damages of Rs 11 crore for the alleged damage to his reputation.
The suit also raised concerns over the increasing misuse of artificial intelligence tools and deepfake technology to create and spread false information. It argued that digital platforms have a responsibility to take timely action against content that is clearly defamatory and misleading.
The court’s direction comes amid growing concerns over the spread of AI-generated misinformation targeting public figures and the need for stronger accountability mechanisms on social media platforms.
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