Nagpur Cyber Police Files FIR Against Social Media Creators for Defaming Minister Gadkari

In a significant move, the Nagpur Cyber Police have filed an FIR against several social media content creators accused of launching a defamatory campaign against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. This action stems from controversial posts related to the government's ethanol-blended fuel policy. The complaint, lodged by a local BJP leader, highlights misleading statements made in a YouTube video and similar content shared across various platforms. The police are currently investigating the matter, which raises concerns about public peace and misinformation. Additionally, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has urged the Prime Minister to reconsider the implementation of E20 petrol for certain vehicles. Read on for more details.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2026, 15:47 IST

FIR Filed Against Social Media Influencers

The Cyber Police in Nagpur has initiated legal action against several social media content creators. They are accused of orchestrating a defamatory digital campaign targeting Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. This action is linked to controversial online posts regarding the government's ethanol-blended (E20) fuel policy. Joint Commissioner of Police, Naveen Chandra Reddy, provided details about the investigation, stating that the FIR was filed based on a complaint received. The FIR outlines the names of those involved, the nature of the posts, and includes details of obscene or inappropriate comments made by some individuals. The police are currently conducting an investigation into the matter.

The complaint was lodged by Shishir Arun Tripathi, the convenor of the BJP's Nagpur city social media cell. It alleges that a YouTube video uploaded by content creator Manish Kashyap on July 3, 2026, contained false, defamatory, and misleading statements about Gadkari and the E20 fuel, aimed at misleading the public. Reports indicate that similar misleading videos and posts were shared on other YouTube and Instagram accounts, including 'Desi Boys', 'Harshit Rathi', and 'Anklesh Inwati'.

The complainants described these allegations as baseless and objectionable against the central minister. They also expressed concerns that such content could disrupt public peace and create confusion among citizens. Based on the complaint and the digital evidence submitted, the Nagpur Cyber Police registered FIR number 0092/2026 under sections 356, 352, and 296 of the Indian Penal Code (BNS), 2023, as well as section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Additionally, Arvind Kejriwal, the National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Chief Minister of Delhi, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the central government to reconsider the implementation of E20 petrol for vehicles not designed to run on ethanol-blended fuel.