Gujarat High Court refuses interim release for journalist Ravi Nair in Adani defamation case

A Gujarat sessions court has granted bail to journalist Ravi Nair in a criminal defamation case filed against him by the Adani Group, Bar and Bench reported.Nair, who was convicted in the case earlier this year, was released on bail during the pendency of his appeal, but was again taken into custody on September 17 following the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against him for allegedly not appearing before the appellate court.This comes a day after the Gujarat High Court refused to grant him any interim relief on his petition challenging a non-bailable warrant. He had separately moved the sessions court for regular bail. He also approached the Supreme Court seeking release from prison.Principal and District Sessions Judge at Gandhinagar Ashish JS Malhotra on Thursday allowed his bail plea.Nair, a contributor to adaniwatch.org, was convicted of defamation by a Judicial Magistrate First Class in Gandhinagar in February over a series of tweets and articles accusing the Adani Group of corruption, crony capitalism and misuse of government agencies. He was sentenced to a year’s simple imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000. The sessions court later suspended his sentence and released him on bail while he appealed the conviction, on conditions including regular court appearances and surrendering his passport.Several press associations have condemned the arrest.DIGIPUB described Nair’s continued detention as “deeply disturbing” and said it stems from his reporting and posts about the Adani Group. It built its objection around one fundamental question: “If an appeal is still pending, why should a journalist be kept behind bars before the final outcome of that appeal?”The Press Club of India is deeply concerned about independent journalist Ravi Nair's continued incarceration in Gujarat. We urge authorities in Gujarat to release Nair while the courts decide on his appeals, and to ensure that the criminal defamation law is not used to target journalists.— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) September 24, 2026 The Press Club of India urged authorities in Gujarat to release Nair. A quarter-century of Modi governance calls for questions and a hamper. To mark the occasion, we have offers for subscribers and other readers.

Digipub News India Foundation asked why a journalist was being kept in custody before the final outcome of his appeal.

DIGIPUB News India Foundation, an association of digital news publishers, has condemned the continued imprisonment of journalist Ravi Nair in a criminal defamation case brought by the Adani Group. In a statement dated September 23, the media body said the case raises concerns that go well beyond one journalist.DIGIPUB described Nair’s continued detention as “deeply disturbing” and said it stems from his reporting and posts about the Adani Group. It built its objection around one fundamental question: “If an appeal is still pending, why should a journalist be kept behind bars before the final outcome of that appeal?”The statement also pointed out that the corporate entity pursuing the criminal proceedings ultimately controls a major news organisation whose journalists work in the same profession. It does not name the organisation.DIGIPUB, however, argued that the case matters beyond Nair himself. “This is not merely about Ravi Nair. It is about the chilling message such a case can send to every independent journalist investigating or questioning powerful corporate interests.”It also warned that if such prosecutions become routine, any journalist who investigates powerful entities could face the same fate. “Press freedom cannot survive if the cost of holding powerful institutions to account is imprisonment.”On Wednesday, the Gujarat High Court rejected journalist Ravi Nair’s plea for interim release in a criminal defamation case filed against him by the Adani Group, Bar and Bench reported. Nair was convicted earlier this year and released on bail while his appeal was pending. He was taken back into custody on September 17 after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him, reportedly for failing to appear before the appellate court.On September 23, Justice MK Thakker reserved her decision on Nair’s petition challenging the warrant issued by the Sessions Court, and said she will dictate her order on September 30, reported Bar and Bench. Adani Enterprises filed a defamation case in September 2021, alleging that tweets posted by Nair between October 2020 and July 2021 about the Adani Group had falsely damaged its reputation among investors and regulators. Nair maintains that his posts amounted to fair, public-interest journalism based on information publicly available.A quarter-century of Modi governance calls for questions and a hamper. To mark the occasion, we have offers for subscribers and other readers.

The Gujarat High Court has rejected journalist Ravi Nair’s plea for interim release in a criminal defamation case filed against him by the Adani Group, Bar and Bench reported. The court had earlier given Adani Enterprises additional time to respond to Nair’s petition challenging his custody in a criminal defamation case, pushing the matter to September 23. Justice MK Thakker on Wednesday reserved her decision on Nair’s petition. The court said that it will dictate the order next Wednesday.Nair, a contributor to adaniwatch.org, was convicted of defamation by a Judicial Magistrate First Class in Gandhinagar in February over a series of tweets and articles accusing the Adani Group of corruption, crony capitalism and misuse of government agencies. He was sentenced to a year’s simple imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000. The Sessions Court later suspended his sentence and released him on bail while he appealed the conviction, on conditions including regular court appearances and surrendering his passport.According to a Bar and Bench report, Nair was taken back into custody last week after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him. The Indian Express reported that a September 3 Sessions Court order first held that Nair was missing and deliberately avoiding arrest; a subsequent September 17 order rejected his bid to cancel the warrant and directed that he be sent to jail. He then moved the High Court for release.At Monday’s hearing before Justice M K Thakker, senior counsel Mitesh Amin, appearing for Adani Enterprises, sought a short adjournment to place “certain legal and factual aspects” on record, according to The Indian Express. Nair’s counsel, Advocate Abhik Chimni, opposed the request and pushed for interim relief, arguing that the case was already at the appellate stage and that a Supreme Court ruling supported his client's position. As Bar and Bench reported, Chimni argued in court, “Why should I even spend one day in jail?”The court granted Adani’s adjournment but made clear it would not allow any further delay.Adani Enterprises filed a defamation case in September 2021, alleging that tweets posted by Nair between October 2020 and July 2021 about the Adani Group had falsely damaged its reputation among investors and regulators. Nair maintains that his posts amounted to fair, public-interest journalism based on information publicly available.A quarter-century of Modi governance calls for questions and a hamper. To mark the occasion, we have offers for subscribers and other readers.

He was sent to jail on September 17 for failing to appear during a hearing regarding a series of posts he had made on X between October 2020 and July 2021.