Bombay High Court Allows Nitin Gadkari to Sue Digital Platforms for Defamation

Court Grants Permission for Defamation Lawsuit

The Bombay High Court has granted permission to Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, to file a civil defamation lawsuit against digital platforms such as Google, X, and Meta. This decision was made on Monday, following arguments presented by Gadkari's lawyer, Sandeep S. Ladda, who stated that the allegedly defamatory content was accessible to users across various internet platforms in Mumbai, thereby falling under the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court.

Allegations of False and Misleading Content

In his petition filed under Clause XII of the Letters Patent, Gadkari accused the platforms of publishing misleading and defamatory material that falsely linked him and his family to financial gains from the central government's E20 (20% ethanol-blended petrol) policy. The petition clarified that these allegations are baseless, as the implementation of the ethanol-blending policy is managed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not by Gadkari's Ministry.

Seeking Injunction Against Defamatory Material

In the proposed civil case, Gadkari is seeking a permanent and mandatory injunction against the publication and circulation of the defamatory content. This includes material that allegedly imposes false statements, uses derogatory language, and employs AI-generated audio and visuals featuring his name, image, and likeness without consent. The minister claims that this content has caused "serious and irreparable" harm to his reputation, goodwill, honor, and public image, as well as violating his personality and publicity rights. With the court's approval, Gadkari is now set to pursue legal action against Meta, X, Google, and other involved parties for the alleged dissemination of defamatory and fabricated content.