Bombay High Court Allows Nitin Gadkari to Sue Over Defamatory Deepfakes

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has received the green light from the Bombay High Court to file a civil suit against Meta Platforms and other entities over defamatory deepfake content. The lawsuit addresses false allegations regarding his involvement in the ethanol-blended fuel initiative, claiming that the content is malicious and designed to mislead the public. Gadkari's legal team argues that the defamatory material is accessible in Maharashtra, thus justifying the court's jurisdiction. This case highlights the growing concern over the impact of deepfake technology and misinformation online.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 17:51 IST

Legal Action Against Online Platforms

A file image of Nitin Gadkari. (Photo:X)

Mumbai, Jul 27: The Bombay High Court has granted permission to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to initiate a civil lawsuit against Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google LLC, and other unidentified individuals concerning allegedly defamatory deepfake and AI-generated content targeting him.

As the Minister for Road Transport and Highways and a prominent BJP figure, Gadkari submitted a leave petition under Clause XII of the Letters Patent, which is a procedural step required when part of the legal issue arises outside the court's jurisdiction.

This permission is essential for the court to adjudicate a case despite any jurisdictional constraints.

On Monday, Gadkari's petition was reviewed by Justice Abhay Ahuja. His attorney, Sandeep Ladda, argued that the online platforms have made the alleged defamatory and deepfake materials publicly accessible, including to users in Maharashtra.

Ladda contended that since this content can be accessed in Maharashtra, a significant portion of the legal issue also arises within the state.

Justice Ahuja accepted these arguments and allowed the Union Minister to proceed with the civil suit against the online entities.

In his intended lawsuit, Gadkari asserts that numerous fake, AI-generated, and defamatory materials are circulating online regarding the ethanol-blended fuel initiative.

The proposed suit claims that unknown individuals have disseminated posts and deepfake content that falsely depict him as personally accountable for the program, suggesting that he and his family have profited financially from it.

The allegations in these posts are unequivocally false, malicious, and highly defamatory, aimed at creating a misleading public image of Gadkari, according to the suit.

Through this legal action, Gadkari seeks permanent injunctions against the dissemination of such false and misleading content.