Gadkari Seeks ₹110 Million in Damages After Court Clears Defamation Suit Against Social Media

Following the Bombay High Court's decision to permit filing a civil action, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is set to sue social media companies and unidentified users for circulating deep‑fake videos that allege his personal gain from the E20 ethanol‑blended petrol initiative. Gadkari clarified that the ethanol blending policy is managed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not his own ministry, and that the accusations are intended to damage his reputation. In the petition, he asked the court to order the immediate deletion of the misleading content and to grant ₹110 million as compensation for reputational injury. His legal counsel stressed that the case targets the spread of defamatory falsehoods, not the suppression of public opinion. The high court's approval marks a significant step toward holding platforms responsible for harmful misinformation.