Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court over the circulation of social media posts linking him and his family to purported business gains from the government’s E20 ethanol-blended fuel programme.The Bombay High Court on Monday permitted Gadkari to initiate a civil suit against the circulation of allegedly defamatory and AI-generated deepfake content targeting him online, according to agency reports.The legal move comes amid an ongoing public debate over the use of E20 fuel, with Gadkari being a strong advocate of the ethanol-blending programme as part of India’s efforts to promote cleaner and more sustainable transportation. The minister has repeatedly defended the initiative against criticism, asserting that there is no credible evidence to support claims that E20 fuel causes damage to vehicles.At a recent public event, Gadkari challenged critics to identify even a single vehicle that had been damaged due to the use of E20 fuel. He dismissed the campaign on social media as a “paid” and politically motivated effort aimed at spreading misinformation about the ethanol-blending initiative.Concerns over E20 fuel have intensified in recent months, with some social media users alleging that the fuel causes reduced mileage and mechanical problems in vehicles. The government, however, has consistently rejected these claims, asserting that available data does not support such allegations.Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has been among the prominent critics of the programme. He alleged that motorists were experiencing lower fuel efficiency and mechanical issues after using E20-blended petrol.Kejriwal also wrote to automobile manufacturers seeking clarification over what he described as contradictory positions regarding the compatibility of E20 fuel with vehicles manufactured before 2023.The government has countered these concerns by citing industry data. According to official figures, a leading automobile manufacturer serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during 2025-26 financial year, including around 1.5 crore vehicles that were not originally certified as E20-compatible. The government said the company found no evidence of E20-induced corrosion, abnormal wear or any reduction in the lifespan of vehicle components.