Agencies | Nagpur:
The Nagpur Cyber Police on Tuesday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against YouTuber Manish Kashyap and three other social media influencers for allegedly spreading misleading information about ethanol-blended petrol, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and automobile manufacturer Toyota.
The case was registered following a complaint filed by Shishir Tripathi, city president of the BJP’s Social Media Cell. Police have initiated an investigation under Sections 352, 356 and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
According to the FIR, Kashyap uploaded videos alleging that his Toyota Innova Hycross developed breakdown-like issues due to the use of E20 petrol, despite the vehicle being officially certified as compatible with fuel containing up to 20 per cent ethanol.
In one of the videos, Kashyap displayed fuel samples collected from different parts of the vehicle’s fuel system, claiming they indicated abnormal ethanol content and visible contamination. In another video, he showed the vehicle’s fuel tank after its removal, alleging that the fuel pump and filter assembly had been adversely affected.
He also questioned whether the costs of inspection, cleaning and replacement would be covered under the vehicle’s extended warranty if the issue was classified as fuel contamination.
Meanwhile, addressing the Viksit Bharat Conclave on Tuesday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari strongly defended the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol, challenging critics to identify “a single car” that had developed problems due to the fuel.
“There is no case of any car facing issues due to E20 petrol. Has there been any car in the country that faced issues due to the use of E20 petrol? Just name one,” Gadkari said.
The minister alleged that “false narratives” were being circulated regarding higher ethanol-blended petrol and claimed they were part of “paid campaigns.”
Highlighting the government’s push for alternative fuels, Gadkari said India’s dependence on fossil fuels continued to place a significant burden on the economy, with annual fuel imports costing around ₹22 lakh crore. He said expanding the use of cleaner fuels such as ethanol was crucial to reducing crude oil imports and lowering carbon emissions.
India has already achieved its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol, using ethanol derived from biomass, including sugarcane, maize and rice. The programme is aimed at reducing dependence on imported crude oil while promoting cleaner energy and cutting carbon emissions.
