Court Reverses Order on Journalists in Adani Defamation Case

A Delhi district court has overturned an earlier directive that required four journalists to take down alleged defamatory content against Adani Enterprises Limited. The journalists—Ravi Nair, Abir Dasgupta, Ayaskanta Das, and Ayush Joshi—appealed against a September 6 order by a civil judge that restricted the publishing or circulation of such content.

While initially acting on a defamation complaint by Adani Enterprises, the civil judge had mandated removal of material across various platforms without providing the defendants with a chance to be heard. The district judge, Ashish Aggarwal, noted that the Civil Procedure Code's provisions were overlooked in the order.

Judge Aggarwal allowed the appeal, deeming the earlier order unsustainable without passing a judgment on the case's merits. The case has been sent back for a new hearing, ensuring both sides have the opportunity to present their arguments. A different court is reviewing a similar appeal by journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta.

(With inputs from agencies.)