Nitin Gadkari Ethanol Controversy: Nagpur Cyber Police Register FIR Against Social Media Creators

The Nagpur Cyber Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against several social media content creators over an alleged online campaign targeting Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and the government's ethanol-blended (E20) fuel policy.

The case centres on videos and social media posts that complainants claim contained false, defamatory and misleading information about Gadkari and the Centre's push for ethanol-blended petrol.

Why Did the Police Register an FIR?

The FIR was registered following a complaint filed by BJP Nagpur City Social Media Cell Convener Shishir Arun Tripathi.

According to the complaint, a YouTube video uploaded on July 3, 2026, by content creator Manish Kashyap allegedly carried false, defamatory and misleading statements regarding Gadkari and E20 fuel with the intention of misleading the public.

The complaint further alleged that similar videos and posts were circulated through other YouTube and Instagram accounts, including "Desi Boys", "Harshit Rathi" and "Anklesh Inwati". It claimed these creators made baseless and objectionable allegations against the Union Minister, and that the content had the potential to create confusion among citizens and disturb public peace.

Based on the complaint and digital evidence submitted, 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.

What Have the Police Said?

Confirming the investigation, Joint Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, Navinchandra Reddy said: "An offence has been registered based on the complaint received. The FIR details the names of the individuals involved and the nature of the posts, as well as the obscene or abusive comments made by certain people. Police is currently investigating the matter..."

Authorities have not announced any arrests in the case so far.

Who Has Been Named in the Complaint?

The complaint specifically mentions content creator Manish Kashyap and alleges that similar content was published by social media accounts including "Desi Boys", "Harshit Rathi" and "Anklesh Inwati".

Police are investigating the allegations and examining the digital evidence submitted with the complaint.

What Is E20 Fuel?

E20 fuel is petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol, a biofuel produced primarily from agricultural feedstocks such as sugarcane and grains. The government has promoted ethanol blending to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, lower emissions and support India's biofuel economy.

However, the policy has also sparked debate over vehicle compatibility, fuel efficiency and its impact on older vehicles that were not originally designed to run on higher ethanol blends.

Why Has the Debate Intensified?

The controversy has gained political attention after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote 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.

His intervention has added a political dimension to an issue that was already generating widespread discussion on social media.

What Happens Next?

The Nagpur Cyber Police are continuing their investigation into the allegations and will examine the content, supporting digital evidence and applicable legal provisions before taking further action. The case is expected to remain under scrutiny as the debate around E20 fuel and online misinformation continues.

(With inputs from ANI)