GUWAHATI: Four influencers, including YouTuber Manish Kashyap, have been booked by the Nagpur City Cyber Police for allegedly spreading misleading and defamatory content about Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in connection with the ongoing debate over E20 petrol.
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The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Shishir Arun Tripathi, head of the Nagpur BJP Social Media Cell. The other accused have been identified as the Instagram account Desi Boys (desi_boysncr), Harshit Rathi and Ankleash Invatee.
According to the complaint, a YouTube video uploaded by Manish Kashyap on July 3 allegedly contained misinformation about E20 fuel and was aimed at creating public misunderstanding and damaging Gadkari’s reputation. The complaint also alleged that the other three influencers used abusive language against the Union Minister in videos related to ethanol-blended petrol.
Police have registered the case under Sections 356, 352 and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
The case comes amid a growing debate over E20 petrol, which contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. While the government has promoted ethanol blending as a way to reduce crude oil imports, cut emissions and increase demand for crops such as sugarcane, critics have raised concerns over reduced fuel efficiency and the impact of E20 on older vehicles that were not designed for higher ethanol blends.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has been one of the most prominent advocates of ethanol blending. The complaint alleges that the accused influencers spread misleading information about the policy and linked it to the Union Minister in a manner that was intended to defame him and create public unrest.