Four Influencers Face Legal Action for Social Media Videos on Nitin Gadkari and E20

Nagpur Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against four social media influencers, including YouTuber-turned-politician Manish Kashyap, over videos related to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and the Centre’s E20 fuel policy. The Nagpur City Cyber Police Station registered the case after Shishir Tripathi, president of the BJP Social Media Cell in Nagpur, filed a complaint. Besides Kashyap, the FIR names the Instagram page Desi Boys (desi_boysncr) and influencers Harshit Rathi and Ankleash Invatee. The complainant alleged that the accused circulated misleading and defamatory content to create confusion about ethanol-blended petrol and damage Gadkari’s reputation. Police have launched an investigation and started examining the videos and other digital evidence mentioned in the complaint.

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Complaint Alleges Misinformation and Defamatory Content form Influencers

The complaint alleged that Manish Kashyap uploaded a YouTube video on July 3 containing inaccurate information about E20 fuel. According to the complainant, the video misrepresented the government’s ethanol-blending policy and misled viewers about its benefits and effects. The complaint also accused the other three influencers of posting videos containing abusive remarks against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Police alleged that the content attempted to spread misinformation, defame the minister, and create public misunderstanding. Based on these allegations, investigators registered the FIR under Sections 356, 352, and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. Officers will examine the evidence to determine whether the accused violated the law.

The case comes as discussions over the Centre’s E20 fuel policy continue across the country. E20 fuel contains 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent petrol and forms a key part of the government’s plan to reduce crude oil imports and strengthen India’s energy security. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has consistently promoted ethanol blending, saying it can reduce emissions, encourage cleaner transportation, and increase farmers’ income by boosting demand for crops such as sugarcane. Government officials have repeatedly stated that E20 fuel remains safe for compatible vehicles and supports India’s long-term clean energy goals. The Centre continues to encourage the gradual adoption of ethanol-blended fuel nationwide.

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Critics Raise Concerns as Police Begin Investigation

Several motorists, automobile experts, and social media creators have criticised the E20 policy, arguing that higher ethanol content may reduce mileage and affect older vehicles that lack E20 compatibility. However, the government has rejected these concerns for compatible vehicles and continues to defend the policy. The complaint filed in Nagpur alleges that the accused influencers went beyond criticism by sharing misleading and defamatory content about the minister and the fuel policy. Police have not made any arrests so far and continue reviewing the digital evidence. Investigators will decide their next course of action after completing the inquiry. The case highlights increasing legal scrutiny of online content related to government policies and public officials.

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