Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Bombay High Court Orders Removal of Defamatory Content Targeting Gadkari
A very important minister in India named Nitin Gadkari was hurt by fake videos and mean posts on social media.
The fake posts were about a type of fuel called E20.
They made it look like the minister did bad things that he did not do.
The minister went to a big court in Mumbai called the Bombay High Court.
He asked the court to make social media companies remove the fake content.
Companies like Meta, which runs Facebook and Instagram, and X, which used to be called Twitter, had to come to court.
The judge looked at the evidence and said the posts appeared fake and defamatory.
The judge ordered the companies to take the posts down right away.
The companies also have to reveal who put the fake posts online.
The court said such rude posts have no place on public platforms.
The Bombay High Court directed Meta, X Corp and other social media platforms to remove defamatory content about Union Minister Nitin Gadkari linked to the E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy.
The court accepted the prima facie evidence presented and questioned platforms over the absence of an effective mechanism to curb such content.
The court observed that the E20-related content appeared, prima facie, to be deepfake and defamatory.
Platforms were ordered to immediately remove the content and provide details of the individuals who uploaded it, including similar content posted after the lawsuit was filed.
Justice Arif Doctor granted interim relief to Gadkari, calling the posts "vile, abusive, obscene and defamatory" with no place on public platforms.
- Who
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, represented by Advocate Sandeep S. Ladda, against social media platforms including Meta and X Corp; the order was passed by Justice Arif Doctor.
- What
- The Bombay High Court directed social media platforms to take down defamatory, abusive and deepfake content targeting Gadkari and the E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy, and to reveal the uploaders.
- When
- The hearing and order took place on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
- Where
- Mumbai, before the Bombay High Court.
- Why
- The court found the content appeared prima facie to be deepfake and defamatory, and noted that social media platforms lack an adequate system to prevent their misuse for damaging reputations.
- Subject
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Presiding Judge
- Justice Arif Doctor
- Plaintiff's Advocate
- Sandeep S. Ladda
- Platforms Involved
- Meta (Facebook, Instagram), X Corp (formerly Twitter)
- Related Policy
- E20 ethanol-blended petrol / ethanol-blending programme
- Court Order
- Immediate removal of defamatory and deepfake content; disclosure of uploaders' details
- Hearing Date
- August 5, 2026