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Mumbai.Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has clarified that he has no role in the Centre's ethanol-blended petrol programme, distancing himself from claims made in several AI-generated deepfake videos circulating on social media. In a petition before the Bombay High Court, Gadkari said both the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme and the E20 initiative are entirely handled by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The court has now allowed him to initiate civil proceedings against digital platforms hosting the alleged misleading content.

Court clears legal action against platforms

The petition states that multiple AI-generated videos uploaded on Meta platforms, X and Google-linked services falsely portrayed Gadkari as being directly associated with the government's ethanol policy. According to the minister, the fabricated content also attempted to create the impression that he and his family were benefiting financially from the EBP Programme and the E20 initiative.

The Bombay High Court on Monday granted permission for Gadkari to proceed with civil suits against the technology companies.

Key developments:

• Bombay High Court permits Gadkari to file civil suits.
• Action will target Meta, X and Google over alleged deepfake content.
• The petition claims AI-generated videos falsely linked him to the ethanol programme.
• Gadkari says the policy falls exclusively under the Petroleum Ministry.

Petition names ministries, clarifies intent

The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications have also been named as respondents in the case. However, Gadkari has made it clear that the legal action is not aimed at restricting public debate or criticism of government policies.

The petition says citizens are free to question or debate government decisions, but deliberately fabricated content that spreads misinformation and damages an individual's reputation cannot be justified. Gadkari has described the viral videos as false, malicious and entirely fabricated.

Why E20 fuel remains under scrutiny

The controversy comes amid continuing concerns over E20 fuel, a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. Owners of petrol vehicles manufactured before 2023 have repeatedly raised concerns, claiming that the higher ethanol content has reduced fuel efficiency, increased maintenance costs and caused faster wear and tear of engine components.

At the heart of Gadkari's petition is the argument that misinformation generated through artificial intelligence should not be allowed to distort public perception or falsely attribute government policies to individuals who have no administrative role in implementing them.

Key takeaways:

• Gadkari denies any involvement in the EBP Programme or E20 initiative.
• He alleges unknown persons used AI-generated deepfake videos to spread false claims.
• The case focuses on misinformation, not on preventing criticism of government policies.
• Civil proceedings against the digital platforms are expected to follow the High Court's approval.