The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed Meta, X, Google and other social media platforms to remove posts that are reportedly defamatory in nature, and AI-generated deepfake videos targeting Union Minister Nitin Gadkari over the ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) programme. The court also asked the platforms to devise a mechanism for taking down such content without requiring judicial intervention in every case.
Hearing Gadkari's plea, Justice Arif Doctor described the material circulating online as "absolutely vile and abusive". "The material which the plaintiff seeks to pull down, I can only say that the same is absolutely vile and abusive. Such material should have no place on a public platform, which is accessible to everyone, including young," the judge observed.
The court further said that if any fresh defamatory or AI-generated deepfake content surfaces, it should be brought to the notice of the platforms. In cases where there is uncertainty over whether content should be removed, the companies may approach the court for clarification. "In the event there is a grey area, they will have liberty to move court," the bench said, while listing the matter for further hearing after four weeks.
Nitin Gadkari approached the High Court alleging that several social media posts falsely claimed he and his family had financially benefited from the Centre's ethanol-blended petrol programme. Through advocate Sandeep S. Ladda, he argued that the content wrongly implied corruption, nepotism, conflict of interest and misuse of official position.
According to the petition, the posts and videos were "false, fabricated, baseless, malicious, misleading, unsubstantiated and devoid of any factual foundation". It further alleged that the material contained abusive language, false accusations and manipulated audio-visual content intended to falsely attribute statements and actions to the Union minister. Gadkari has sought ₹11 crore in damages.
The petition comes amid criticism of the EBP programme, under which ethanol produced from sugarcane, rice and maize is blended with petrol to reduce India's dependence on crude oil imports. India achieved its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending (E20) five years ahead of its original 2030 deadline. Some motorists have alleged that E20 fuel reduces mileage and damages engines in older vehicles. However, Nitin Gadkari and the Centre have consistently rejected those claims, maintaining that they are based on misinformation circulating on social media.
The High Court petition followed a police complaint lodged last month by Shishir Arun Tripathi, convenor of the BJP's Nagpur social media cell. The complaint alleged that misleading posts and videos concerning Gadkari and E20 fuel were capable of confusing the public and disturbing peace.
