PTC Web Desk: Union minister Nitin Gadkari has moved the Bombay High Court over social media posts and alleged deepfake content that he says falsely link him and his family to financial gains from the E20 ethanol blending programme.

The minister has sought legal action against Meta, other social media platforms and unidentified individuals allegedly involved in creating or spreading the disputed content.

The Bombay High Court has now allowed Gadkari to proceed with a civil suit, clearing an important procedural hurdle before the case can be formally filed.

Why Gadkari needed court's permission

Gadkari filed a petition seeking "leave" under Clause XII of the Letters Patent. This permission is required in certain civil matters when part of the cause of action arises outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court.

During the hearing, Gadkari's lawyer, Sandeep S Ladda, told Justice Abhay Ahuja that the disputed posts were accessible to people in Mumbai and were intended for public viewing through online platforms. At the same time, the lawyer pointed out that the content could also be accessed from outside Mumbai. Therefore, permission under Clause XII was sought before filing the civil case.

After considering the arguments, Justice Ahuja granted Gadkari permission to institute the proposed suit.

What is disputed E20 content?

The proposed case concerns social media posts and deepfake material that allegedly suggest Gadkari and his family benefited financially from the E20 ethanol programme.

Gadkari has been among the government's prominent supporters of ethanol blending in petrol. However, the ethanol blending policy is administered by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The alleged online content has therefore become the subject of a legal dispute, with the minister seeking to challenge material he considers defamatory.

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Meta and other platforms named

Following the court's order, Gadkari is expected to file the main civil suit before the Bombay High Court. The proposed defendants include Meta and other social media platforms, as well as unidentified individuals referred to as "John Doe" defendants. These unidentified parties are alleged to have created, uploaded, published or helped circulate the disputed material online.

The case could also draw attention to the growing legal challenges surrounding deepfakes and misleading content involving public figures on social media.

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