Journalist and Blogger Face Defamation Charges in Adani Controversy

A local court in Gandhinagar has issued legal notices to journalist Abhisar Sharma and blogger Raju Parulekar, mandating their presence in court on September 20. This action stems from criminal defamation complaints filed against them by the influential Adani Group.

Complaints were lodged under Sections 356(1), 356(2), and 356(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which correspond to Sections 499, 500, and 501 of the Indian Penal Code. These allegations pertain to the dissemination of false and defamatory information, purportedly aimed at tarnishing the conglomerate's public image. The contentious content includes a video from August 18, 2025, wherein Sharma accused the Adani Group of receiving preferential land deals in Assam.

Blogger Parulekar is similarly accused of amplifying such claims via social media platforms since January 2025, suggesting illicit land acquisitions and undue advantages. Adani Group has dismissed these allegations as unfounded, highlighting the absence of any mention of Adani in a Gauhati High Court order cited within the disputed content.

(With inputs from agencies.)