Union Minister Nitin Gadkari obtained an interim order from the Bombay High Court to remove deepfake and AI-generated content falsely connecting him and his family to the government’s E20 ethanol-blending program.
Justice Arif Doctor instructed social media platforms—including Meta, X, and Google—to delete the material, describing it as harmful. The court also asked the companies to create a system for quicker removal of such content without needing repeated court orders.
Court finds content defamatory, orders takedown
The order followed a lawsuit Gadkari filed against Meta, X, Google, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Department of Telecommunications, and unidentified users listed as “Ashok Kumar/John Doe.”
The court’s interim decision stated the flagged content included altered videos and images wrongly assigning personal responsibility for the E20 program to Gadkari. The material also suggested his family profited from the policy, which he has denied.
“The material which plaintiff seeks to pull down, I can only say that the same is absolutely vile and abusive. Such material should have no place on public platform, which is accessible to everyone including young,” the judge said. “The applicant has made out a case for ad interim relief.”
Meta and Google, which participated in the hearing, agreed to take down the listed content. The court accepted their commitment and directed that any future abusive or deepfake material be reported for action. If disagreements arise over whether content violates standards, the parties may return to court.
Meta’s legal team noted some content might qualify as fair criticism. Gadkari’s lawyer clarified the lawsuit was not meant to suppress legitimate discussion. The judge agreed, stating the order did not restrict reasonable commentary.
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Allegations of conflict of interest and corruption
Gadkari’s filing argued the content falsely implied a conflict of interest, claiming his son, Nikhil Gadkari, operates CIAN Agro Industries & Infrastructure Limited, a company linked to ethanol production. The lawsuit called these claims false, noting the E20 program falls under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not Gadkari’s ministry.
The material included fake quotes and images, along with accusations that the E20 fuel blend harms vehicles. Gadkari’s legal team stated while policy criticism is welcome, the content in question became defamatory through profane language and false claims.
Advocate Sandeep S. Ladda appeared for Gadkari. The court will hear the case again in four weeks.
The order provides Gadkari temporary protection against digital misinformation. The larger issue—how to regulate deepfakes and AI-generated content—remains unsolved. Platforms now face pressure to balance free expression with the need to limit harmful fabrications, a conflict likely to continue in courts and policy discussions.
The court’s recommendation for Meta and Google to establish a faster takedown process suggests a move toward self-regulation. Whether this will effectively stop manipulated content or push creators to less cooperative platforms remains uncertain.
Legal disputes over AI-generated defamation are increasing. Unlike traditional libel, deepfakes spread quickly, often with no clear origin. Public figures face added difficulty correcting false narratives once they gain traction.
Gadkari’s legal team emphasized they are not targeting criticism of the E20 program. Their focus is conte—
