Social Media Influencers Face Legal Action in Nagpur Over Controversial E20 Ethanol Blended Fuel Videos Against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

The Nagpur City Cyber Police Station officially registered a First Information Report on July 13, 2026, against four social media content creators for allegedly running a misleading online campaign regarding E20 ethanol blended petrol. The legal action was initiated following a formal complaint lodged by Shishir Tripathi, the city president of the Bharatiya Janata Party social media cell in Nagpur. The police filed the case under Sections 352, 356, and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, alongside Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. The complaint stated that the creators utilized sensationalized claims, edited videos, and abusive language to target Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, accusing his policies of causing vehicle breakdowns. Following the registration of the case, a rapid series of digital shifts occurred on July 15, 2026, when the Instagram pages of three accused creators, identified as Delhi Boys NCR, Harshit Rathee, and Anklesh Invatee, completely vanished from the public domain.

The digital crackdown highlights a stark division in how internet personalities respond to criminal investigations involving public policy criticism. Rohit Kumar, the administrator of the Delhi Boys NCR page, published a formal video apology expressing regret for using offensive language against the Union minister. However, Kumar maintained that his vehicle experienced real mechanical problems after using the fuel, highlighting that his frustration emerged as an ordinary consumer. Conversely, Bihar-based YouTuber and politician Manish Kashyap refused to back down, publishing a direct video statement challenging the authorities. Kashyap openly stated that he would choose to go to prison rather than delete his content, insisting that his public criticisms regarding fuel efficiency drops were entirely accurate. This sudden legal escalation follows a separate incident where India's top vlogger, Sourav Joshi, issued a public apology after service center checks proved his luxury vehicle's drop in mileage was caused by an internal engine fault rather than the government's E20 fuel blend.

This controversy brings to light the underlying friction between aggressive national green energy timelines and public understanding. The central government has pushed for a nationwide rollout of E20 fuel, which contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, to slash crude oil imports and encourage eco-friendly alternatives. While automotive manufacturers certify that modern engines handle the blend smoothly, older vehicles often lack compliance, generating widespread anxiety among daily commuters regarding engine wear and decreased fuel efficiency. The situation becomes highly complicated when influencers present individual vehicle breakdowns as absolute proof of broad systemic failure without backing their claims with engineering data. Political entities have quickly capitalized on this consumer anxiety, with opposition leaders demanding structured price cuts for E20 fuel and asking petrol pumps to offer pure petrol options alongside the blended version.

The incident shows how rapidly standard consumer complaints can turn into legal cases when combined with abusive language and massive digital reach. Cyber police investigators confirmed that they are actively collecting digital information from platforms to trace the origin of the videos. While public administrations must protect policy reputations from unverified rumors, using heavy criminal charges against online commentators might unintentionally reduce constructive feedback about real consumer problems. For the green transition to work seamlessly, authorities need to back up legal actions with clear public campaigns that address mileage drops and explain engine compatibility directly to the public. As the investigation continues, the event stands as a strong lesson for digital creators to verify mechanical facts and maintain polite language before posting sensitive public policy reviews online.