Nagpur: The Nagpur Cyber Police have registered a First Information Report against four social media influencers, including prominent YouTuber Manish Kashyap. The content creators are accused of spreading highly misleading information regarding the ethanol blending policy of the Central Government and falsely linking the national initiative to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The strict legal action follows a detailed formal complaint filed by Shishir Arun Tripathi, who currently heads the Bharatiya Janata Party Social Media Cell in Nagpur. According to senior police officials, the accused individuals uploaded several viral videos on YouTube and Instagram during ongoing public discussions about blending twenty percent ethanol with standard petrol. The controversial content allegedly claimed that the newly introduced green fuel causes severe rusting and permanent mechanical damage to vehicle engines. The videos also promoted fraudulent practices and explained illegal methods to bypass fuel regulations.
Alongside Manish Kashyap, the investigating authorities have identified the other accused as Harshit Rathi, Anklesh Invate, and the administrator of a popular Instagram page named Desi Boyser. The First Information Report states that these content creators used abusive and defamatory language to deliberately tarnish the public image of the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. The complaint highlights that they falsely projected the minister as being responsible for harming vehicle owners rather than promoting sustainable and clean energy solutions for the country.
Law enforcement authorities have firmly clarified that Nitin Gadkari has no direct connection to the specific allegations raised in the defamatory videos. His name was deliberately misused to create public panic and attract higher digital viewership. The unchecked spread of such fake news has caused immense confusion among regular citizens regarding the daily safety of their personal vehicles.
Following a thorough preliminary inquiry, the cyber cell found solid evidence indicating the deliberate circulation of unlawful and objectionable content across multiple online platforms. The police have officially booked all four influencers under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. A comprehensive investigation is currently underway to uncover the broader network behind this coordinated digital misinformation campaign.