E20 fuel row: FIR against content creators for ‘defamatory posts’ about Nitin Gadkari

The Nagpur Cyber Police have registered a first information report against several social media content creators for allegedly running a defamatory online campaign against Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, ANI reported on Thursday.

The case was filed in the backdrop of a heated online debate about the government's E20 fuel policy. Several vehicle owners have claimed that the E20 variant of petrol, which has 20% ethanol, reduces mileage and damages vehicles.

The complaint was filed by BJP Nagpur City Social Media Cell Convener Shishir Arun Tripathi, ANI reported.

The complaint has alleged that a YouTube video uploaded by content creator Manish Kashyap on July 3, 2026, contained false, defamatory and misleading claims about Gadkari and E20 fuel, with the intent to mislead the public, the news agency reported.

Other YouTube and Instagram accounts named in the FIR include Desi Boys NCR, Harshit Rathi and Anklesh Invate.

The FIR has been filed under Sections 356, 352 and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

After the FIR was filed, Rohit Kumar, who runs the Delhi Boys NCR page posted a video on Instagram, in which he apologised for using “abusive” language. However, he remarked: “If someone who earns Rs 15,000 to Rs...

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