India News
Nitin Gadkari Moves Bombay High Court Over AI Deepfakes, Seeks ₹11 Crore in Damages: ‘False E20 Claims Hurt My Reputation’
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has filed a ₹11 crore defamation suit, alleging that AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated videos and fabricated social media posts falsely linked him and his family to the Centre’s E20 ethanol-blending policy and corruption allegations.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court, seeking ₹11 crore in damages over what he describes as a coordinated campaign of defamatory social media content, including AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated videos, fabricated quotes and abusive posts.
Filed through advocate Sandeep Laddha, the 86-page petition alleges that the misleading content falsely portrays Gadkari and his family as beneficiaries of the Centre’s E20 ethanol-blending programme, causing significant damage to his reputation and violating his personality rights.
Gadkari Says He Has No Role in E20 Policy
A central argument in the petition is that Nitin Gadkari has no role in framing, implementing or administering the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) or the E20 initiative.
According to the suit, responsibility for the programme rests entirely with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), while Gadkari heads the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The petition further explains that the Ethanol Blending Programme originated in 2003 and has gradually expanded to support the government’s goal of 20% ethanol blending during the 2025–26 ethanol supply year.
Social Media Platforms Named in the Suit
The lawsuit names several major technology companies and government departments as defendants, including:
- Meta (Facebook and Instagram)
- X
- YouTube
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
- Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- Unknown individuals identified as Ashok Kumar/John Doe
The petition alleges that these platforms hosted or enabled the circulation of misleading content that falsely associated Gadkari with corruption and the E20 policy.
Allegations of AI Deepfakes and Fake Quotes
According to the petition, numerous viral reels, memes, AI-generated images, face-swap videos and fabricated statements have been circulated online, portraying Gadkari as the architect of the E20 programme and alleging that his family profited from it.
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The minister argues that these claims are entirely baseless and directly contradict official government records.
He has also alleged that the unauthorised use of his name, face, voice and mannerisms in AI-generated content amounts to a violation of his personality and publicity rights.
Not Against Criticism, But Against Falsehood
The petition clarifies that Gadkari is not seeking to suppress public criticism or political debate surrounding government policies.
Instead, it argues that the disputed content crosses the line from legitimate criticism into defamation, relying on fabricated visuals, abusive language and false allegations that harm his public image.
According to the suit, criticism of public policy is acceptable, but misinformation created through manipulated content and AI technology should not be protected.
Removal of Content and ₹11 Crore Compensation Sought
In addition to monetary compensation of ₹11 crore, Gadkari has requested the court to issue permanent and mandatory injunctions directing the removal of the allegedly defamatory material from digital platforms.
The petition identifies 26 specific online links containing the disputed content and seeks their immediate removal.
The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing before Justice Arif S. Doctor in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday.
The case is expected to draw attention to the growing legal challenges surrounding AI-generated deepfakes, digital impersonation and the responsibilities of online platforms in tackling misinformation.
