The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed several news organisations, journalists, and social media platforms to remove content related to industrialist Gautam Adani and his companies, following a Delhi court’s interim order in a defamation case.
Notices were issued to platforms such as The Wire, Newslaundry, and HW News, along with independent journalists and content creators including Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Ravish Kumar, Ajit Anjum, Akash Banerjee, and Dhruv Rathee. Tech firms Meta and Google have also been instructed to comply.
The ministry’s order demands the removal of 138 YouTube videos and 83 Instagram posts, many of which feature satirical commentary or brief references to Adani. The directive follows a September 6 ruling by Special Civil Judge Anuj Kumar Singh of the Rohini District Court, who issued an ex-parte injunction in a defamation suit filed by Adani Enterprises.
The court ordered the defendants to take down specific content within five days, while clarifying that the injunction does not prevent fair and verified reporting.
Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, one of the journalists named in the case, said he was unable to attend the most recent Delhi hearing due to a separate appearance in Rajasthan related to another defamation case filed by Adani Power. He noted that this is his fifth court visit over legal actions initiated by the conglomerate.
Guha also raised concerns that the ministry’s takedown order appears to extend beyond those directly named in the case, affecting broader media coverage of the Adani group.
Separately, journalist Abhisar Sharma said that the Assam government has filed a case against him shortly after the defamation action, deepening concerns about coordinated legal pressure on critical voices.
The case in Delhi accuses several journalists and platforms of publishing content that allegedly damaged Adani Enterprises’ reputation and caused substantial financial harm.
The government’s intervention has sparked criticism from press freedom advocates, who warn that legal tools are increasingly being used to stifle independent journalism and dissenting commentary.
