Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has sued certain content on the internet that claims that he and his family members have been gaining financially through the government’s E20 ethanol blending program.
According to the lawsuit, the disputed posts — which include deepfake images and manipulated videos — falsely link the minister's family to profits generated by the national ethanol programme. In his submission, Gadkari highlighted that the ethanol blending policy falls entirely under the administrative domain of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, rather than his own department.
The Bombay High Court has given Gadkari an approval for pursuing a civil case against Meta, several social media sites, and some unknown online handles which are reportedly spreading misinformation regarding the Gadkaris' family.
This comes at a time when there is increased discussion among the public concerning the use of ethanol-blended fuel like E20 petrol due to allegations on social media suggesting that such engines suffer from problems with their performance due to the 20 per cent blend. However, car makers and government-supported testing agencies have clarified that cars certified to use E20 petrol are thoroughly tested and compatible with the fuel.
The central government remains committed to increasing the amount of ethanol blended, which is a component of an overall plan to reduce dependence on foreign crude oil, decrease carbon dioxide emissions, and promote agriculture by using domestic feedstock for ethanol production.
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