India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
The Nagpur Cyber Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against several social media users based on a complaint alleging the circulation of false, misleading and defamatory content targeting Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari over ethanol-blended (E20) fuel.
BJP Nagpur City Social Media Cell Convenor Shishir Arun Tripathi in his complaint claimed that a YouTube video uploaded by content creator Manish Kashyap on July 3, 2026, carried false, misleading and defamatory statements about Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and E20 fuel, which, according to him, were aimed at misleading the public.
Nagpur Cyber Police registered an FIR against social media users for allegedly spreading false content about Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and E20 fuel, while AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal urged PM Modi to reconsider the E20 fuel policy due to concerns about older vehicles.
Besides Kashyap, the complaint names several other social media accounts, including the YouTube and Instagram handles Desi Boys, Harshit Rathi and Anklesh Inwati. According to the complainant, these accounts also shared videos and posts carrying what were described as baseless and objectionable allegations against the Union Minister.
The complaint further stated that the circulation of such content had the potential to create confusion among the public and disturb peace.
After examining the complaint and the digital material submitted in support of it, the Nagpur Cyber Police registered FIR No. 0092/2026 under Sections 356, 352 and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The police action comes even as the debate over E20 petrol continues to gather political attention.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to reconsider the rollout of E20 petrol for vehicles that were not designed to run on ethanol-blended fuel.
In his letter, Kejriwal alleged that motorists using E20 petrol in older vehicles have reported reduced mileage, faster engine wear and higher maintenance costs. He argued that owners of cars and two-wheelers manufactured before 2023 were being unfairly burdened by the policy.
He also urged the government to allow petrol pumps to offer both pure petrol and E20-blended fuel, giving consumers the freedom to choose. Kejriwal further sought a reduction in the price of E20 petrol, contending that the fuel’s lower calorific value results in lower mileage and that its pricing should reflect this difference.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Kejriwal said, “I have appealed to Prime Minister Modi to reduce the price of E20 fuel; since E20 yields lower mileage, its price should also be lower… I have also sought an appointment to meet him.”
The AAP leader also called on people facing problems after switching to E20 petrol to share their experiences on social media, saying wider public participation would draw the government’s attention to the issue.
“I want to tell everyone troubled by these issues to make videos and post them on social media, because this government will not listen to us so easily,” he said.
Kejriwal also defended those criticising the fuel policy, saying they were ordinary citizens expressing genuine concerns and should not be subjected to abuse or branded unfairly.
“All those who are raising concerns about E20 petrol are distressed by its impact. They are our fellow citizens. They are not traitors. They are patriots. It is wrong to abuse them in this manner. I want to tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they should not be insulted like this. We live in a democracy. Listen to what they have to say. It is the government’s duty to hear their grievances and address them,” he added.
