Nitin Gadkari Sues Meta Over E20 Ethanol Misinformation

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court to challenge social media posts, deepfake images, and videos that allegedly link him and his family to illicit business gains from the E20 ethanol blending programme. Gadkari asserts that the ethanol blending policy is administered by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India rather than his own office.

The Bombay High Court granted permission for Gadkari to file a civil suit against Meta, other social media platforms, and unidentified entities accused of spreading misinformation. This legal action follows a surge in public scrutiny and social media claims that E20 petrol has caused vehicle performance issues and damage.

While some users claim the fuel is harmful, automakers and government testing agencies maintain that certified vehicles are safe. These agencies state that any isolated problems are the result of fuel contamination or poor maintenance rather than the ethanol blend itself.