Bombay High Court Gives Nitin Gadkari Big Relief in E20 Row, Orders Removal of Deepfake Videos and AI Images

Mumbai: In a major relief for Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Bombay High Court has directed the immediate removal of deepfake videos and AI-generated images that falsely linked him to the E20 fuel controversy. The court observed that such fabricated content is defamatory, offensive, and has no place on public platforms.

The interim order was passed by a bench headed by Justice Arif Doctor while hearing a petition filed by Gadkari. During the proceedings, Gadkari’s counsel, Sandeep Laddha, presented an Instagram Reel and other AI-generated content that allegedly misrepresented the Union Minister’s role in the E20 controversy.

After viewing the material, the court made strong observations, stating that the content was “highly objectionable” and “defamatory.” Justice Arif Doctor noted that such fake and manipulated content is accessible to everyone, including children and young people, and therefore cannot be allowed to remain online. The court further held that the petitioner had made a strong prima facie case for granting interim relief.

During the hearing, representatives of Meta and Google informed the court that they would remove all objectionable videos and AI-generated images listed in Exhibit C of the petition. Accepting their assurance, the High Court directed the platforms to ensure the removal of the identified content.

The matter has been posted for further hearing after four weeks. The case is being closely watched as it highlights growing legal concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to spread misinformation and damage public reputations.