The Bombay High Court directed social media platforms to remove allegedly defamatory deepfakes linking Nitin Gadkari and family to E20. NEW DELHI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday granted interim relief to Union minister Nitin Gadkari, directing social media intermediaries, including Meta, to take down defamatory deepfakes, AI-generated images and other posts linking him and his family to the government’s E20 ethanol-blending programme. The court described the flagged material as “vile and abusive”.Granting interim relief, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed intermediaries, including Meta, to take down deepfakes, AI-generated images and other posts falsely linking Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and his family to the E20 fuel controversy, describing the content as “vile and abusive.”The order was passed by Justice Arif Doctor on Wednesday in Gadkari’s suit against Meta Platforms, X, Google/YouTube, the Union ministry of electronics and information technology, the department of telecommunications and unidentified users.The court observed that the material cited by Gadkari was “absolutely vile” and abusive, and said such content should not be available on public platforms accessible to young people.”One such transcript appears on instagram reel. There are other content. The material which plaintiff seeks to pull down, I can only say that the same is absolutely vile abusive. Such material should have no place on public platform, which is accessible to everyone including young,” the court said in its interim order, as reported by Bar & Bench.The court said Gadkari had made out a case for ad interim relief. Meta and Google, which appeared before the court, agreed to remove the material identified in Exhibit C of the plaint. “Their statement is accepted,” the court said.The case concerns posts, reels and videos that Gadkari alleged contained manipulated images and videos, including AI-generated “defamatory content” and “deep fake content”. The material allegedly attributed personal responsibility to the Union minister for the E20 programme and suggested that he and his family had derived “undue pecuniary benefits” from ethanol blending.According to the plea, some posts referred to Gadkari’s son, Nikhil Gadkari, and his association with CIAN Agro Industries & Infrastructure Limited, which is involved in manufacturing ethanol and other products. The allegations sought to link that association to purported financial benefits from the E20 programme.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesGadkari has denied the allegations.The suit also referred to social media content blaming the minister for introducing or mandating E20 petrol and alleging that ethanol-blended fuel had caused damage to vehicles. Gadkari argued that the posts insinuated corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of office.The court’s interim directions apply to the material identified in the proceedings, rather than constituting a blanket finding on all online criticism of the minister.The matter will come up for further hearing after four weeks, when the court is expected to consider the case further.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSubhadra SrivastavaSubhadra Srivastava is a journalist with The Times of India, covering geopolitics, international and national affairs. With over three years of experience, she focuses on national and global developments, conflict, diplomacy and their impact on India. Her work combines breaking news with in-depth analysis, offering readers context and clarity on the stories shaping the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? 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The Bombay High Court directed social media platforms to remove allegedly defamatory deepfakes linking Nitin Gadkari and family to E20. NEW DELHI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday granted interim relief to Union minister Nitin Gadkari, directing social media intermediaries, including Meta, to take down defamatory deepfakes, AI-generated images and other posts linking him and his family to the government’s E20 ethanol-blending programme. The court described the flagged material as “vile and abusive”.Granting interim relief, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed intermediaries, including Meta, to take down deepfakes, AI-generated images and other posts falsely linking Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and his family to the E20 fuel controversy, describing the content as “vile and abusive.”The order was passed by Justice Arif Doctor on Wednesday in Gadkari’s suit against Meta Platforms, X, Google/YouTube, the Union ministry of electronics and information technology, the department of telecommunications and unidentified users.The court observed that the material cited by Gadkari was “absolutely vile” and abusive, and said such content should not be available on public platforms accessible to young people.”One such transcript appears on instagram reel. There are other content. The material which plaintiff seeks to pull down, I can only say that the same is absolutely vile abusive. Such material should have no place on public platform, which is accessible to everyone including young,” the court said in its interim order, as reported by Bar & Bench.The court said Gadkari had made out a case for ad interim relief. Meta and Google, which appeared before the court, agreed to remove the material identified in Exhibit C of the plaint. “Their statement is accepted,” the court said.The case concerns posts, reels and videos that Gadkari alleged contained manipulated images and videos, including AI-generated “defamatory content” and “deep fake content”. The material allegedly attributed personal responsibility to the Union minister for the E20 programme and suggested that he and his family had derived “undue pecuniary benefits” from ethanol blending.According to the plea, some posts referred to Gadkari’s son, Nikhil Gadkari, and his association with CIAN Agro Industries & Infrastructure Limited, which is involved in manufacturing ethanol and other products. The allegations sought to link that association to purported financial benefits from the E20 programme.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesGadkari has denied the allegations.The suit also referred to social media content blaming the minister for introducing or mandating E20 petrol and alleging that ethanol-blended fuel had caused damage to vehicles. Gadkari argued that the posts insinuated corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of office.The court’s interim directions apply to the material identified in the proceedings, rather than constituting a blanket finding on all online criticism of the minister.The matter will come up for further hearing after four weeks, when the court is expected to consider the case further.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSubhadra SrivastavaSubhadra Srivastava is a journalist with The Times of India, covering geopolitics, international and national affairs. With over three years of experience, she focuses on national and global developments, conflict, diplomacy and their impact on India. Her work combines breaking news with in-depth analysis, offering readers context and clarity on the stories shaping the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several InjuredNHAI Forced Into U-Turn After Posting Wrong Pic Of Rajasthan’s NH-25; Project Director Suspended123Photostories5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations5 subtle forms of manipulation people often mistake for loveThe first date was amazing. So why wasn’t there a second? 9 reasons it happens more often than you think12 dhaba-style potato dishes that are perfect for lunch and dinnerWant siblings who stay close for life? These everyday parenting habits can make all the difference10 baby boy names inspired by kings and royaltyTamannaah Bhatia turns heads with 3 dramatically different looks123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh


‘Vile, abusive’: Bombay HC orders takedown of fake posts targeting Gadkari over E20 ethanol row
The Bombay High Court directed social media platforms to remove allegedly defamatory deepfakes linking Nitin Gadkari and family to E20.

NEW DELHI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday granted interim relief to Union minister Nitin Gadkari, directing social media intermediaries, including Meta, to take down defamatory deepfakes, AI-generated images and other posts linking him and his family to the government’s E20 ethanol-blending programme. The court described the flagged material as “vile and abusive”.Granting interim relief, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed intermediaries, including Meta, to take down deepfakes, AI-generated images and other posts falsely linking Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and his family to the E20 fuel controversy, describing the content as “vile and abusive.”The order was passed by Justice Arif Doctor on Wednesday in Gadkari’s suit against Meta Platforms, X, Google/YouTube, the Union ministry of electronics and information technology, the department of telecommunications and unidentified users.The court observed that the material cited by Gadkari was “absolutely vile” and abusive, and said such content should not be available on public platforms accessible to young people.“One such transcript appears on instagram reel. There are other content. The material which plaintiff seeks to pull down, I can only say that the same is absolutely vile abusive. Such material should have no place on public platform, which is accessible to everyone including young,” the court said in its interim order, as reported by Bar & Bench.The court said Gadkari had made out a case for ad interim relief. Meta and Google, which appeared before the court, agreed to remove the material identified in Exhibit C of the plaint. “Their statement is accepted,” the court said.The case concerns posts, reels and videos that Gadkari alleged contained manipulated images and videos, including AI-generated “defamatory content” and “deep fake content”. The material allegedly attributed personal responsibility to the Union minister for the E20 programme and suggested that he and his family had derived “undue pecuniary benefits” from ethanol blending.According to the plea, some posts referred to Gadkari’s son, Nikhil Gadkari, and his association with CIAN Agro Industries & Infrastructure Limited, which is involved in manufacturing ethanol and other products. The allegations sought to link that association to purported financial benefits from the E20 programme.

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