Ethanol Fuel – Nagpur Cyber Police Register FIR Over Alleged Misleading E20 Posts Targeting Gadkari
Ethanol Fuel –Nagpur Cyber Police have initiated legal action after registering a case over alleged misleading online content related to ethanol-blended fuel and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The Nagpur Cyber Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against multiple social media account holders over allegations of sharing false, misleading and defamatory content concerning Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and the implementation of ethanol-blended E20 fuel. The police action follows a complaint claiming that several online videos and posts spread inaccurate information capable of creating public confusion.
Complaint Leads to Cyber Police Action
The complaint was submitted by Shishir Arun Tripathi, Convener of the BJP Nagpur City Social Media Cell. According to the complaint, a video uploaded on YouTube on July 3, 2026, by content creator Manish Kashyap allegedly contained misleading and defamatory statements about Gadkari and the government’s ethanol fuel initiative. The complainant alleged that the video was intended to misinform viewers regarding the E20 fuel programme.
Authorities also received complaints regarding similar content shared through other YouTube and Instagram accounts, including those identified as Desi Boys, Harshit Rathi and Anklesh Inwati. The complaint alleged that these accounts circulated objectionable claims lacking factual basis and that the posts had the potential to create unnecessary public misunderstanding and disturb social harmony.
FIR Registered Under BNS and IT Act
After reviewing the complaint along with the digital material submitted as supporting evidence, the Nagpur Cyber Police registered FIR No. 0092/2026. The case has been filed under Sections 356, 352 and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, in addition to Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The investigation will examine the nature of the online content and determine whether it violated applicable laws.
Kejriwal Seeks Review of E20 Fuel Rollout
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged the Central government to reconsider the implementation of E20 petrol for vehicles that were not originally designed to operate on ethanol-blended fuel.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal argued that owners of vehicles manufactured before 2023 have reported lower fuel efficiency, increased engine wear and higher maintenance expenses after using E20 petrol. He appealed to the government to review the policy while considering the concerns of affected motorists.
Demand for Fuel Choice and Pricing Review
Kejriwal also proposed that fuel stations should offer customers the option of purchasing either conventional petrol or E20-blended petrol. He further argued that since E20 fuel delivers comparatively lower mileage because of its lower calorific value, its retail price should reflect that difference.
Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, the AAP leader said he had requested Prime Minister Modi to reduce the price of E20 petrol and had also sought an appointment to discuss the issue directly with him.
Appeal for Public Participation
The former Delhi Chief Minister encouraged people who believe they have experienced problems linked to E20 petrol to share their experiences through digital platforms. According to him, greater public participation would help bring wider attention to the concerns surrounding the fuel policy.
Kejriwal also maintained that individuals questioning the impact of E20 petrol should be viewed as citizens expressing legitimate concerns rather than being criticised. He said that in a democratic system, governments have a responsibility to hear public grievances respectfully and respond through appropriate policy measures.