September 22, 2025

In a dramatic turn on September 6, a Delhi court ruled in favor of Indian giant Adani Enterprises, issuing a gag order against nine journalists and digital content creators. The court banned them from publishing anything Adani called "unverified and defamatory." The ban hit some of India's most popular voices, including Ravish Kumar, Dhruv Rathee, Paranjoy Guha Thakurtha, and Abhisar Sharma. The order didn’t stop there! An immediate take-down was ordered for nearly 140 YouTube videos and over 80 Instagram posts linked to the matter. India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry zoomed in, issuing fast takedown notices to enforce the court's decision. But hold on—this order is no simple news item. Known lawyer Nakul Gandhi, defending some of the journalists, slammed the "ex parte" nature of the order — a ruling made without hearing the other side first. Gandhi warned, "The ex parte nature of the original gag order violates fundamental principles of natural justice and constitutional free speech protections." Why is this important? Because such an order means content can be censored even before a court declares it defamatory or false. Gandhi expressed concern that this move might normalize government control over what can be said online. "The gag order sets a troubling precedent for wider use of legal and administrative powers to control digital discourse in India by curtailing an individual's freedom of speech," he said. Even more alarming, the court's order applies beyond the named journalists! These "John Doe" or "Ashok Kumar" orders might now be used to silence anyone in India’s huge digital space. Journalist Abir Dasgupta, included in the order, cautioned, "There is no question that it will have a chilling effect on future reporting." Famous YouTuber Akash Banerjee called the swift government action chilling. "Look at the alacrity and speed with which the MIB executed the court order. These actions have a chilling effect far beyond those named in the order," he said. M K Venu, who co-founded digital news platform The Wire affected by the ban, spoke about the dangers of this move: "If this goes unchecked without court intervention reinforcing media's right to free expression, then a time would come when journalists will not be able to question big corporations that grow unregulated with implicit government support." But there’s some pushback. A Delhi court recently sided with four journalists who challenged the gag, slamming the lack of a chance to defend themselves before the silence. Investigative journalist Ravi Nair called the move a "prior restraint" — a legal chokehold to stop reporting before it even begins. He added, "The process itself becomes a punishment. Hence, people usually hesitate to investigate the corrupt practices of these corporate houses." The Editors Guild of India called the order and takedown "troubling," warning it gives private companies dangerous powers to silence critics. The International Federation of Journalists’ recent South Asia Press Freedom Report paints a grim picture, warning India’s media faces growing shackles and pressure. So, who is Adani? Billionaire Gautam Adani leads the powerful Adani Group, a giant in energy, infrastructure, and more, running major airports and roads. PM Narendra Modi is seen as a close ally, with Adani’s projects often aligned with government goals. Adani’s legal team said the lawsuit was justified, calling the reports an "unjust campaign… with vested interests behind this." The controversy heats up as Indian regulators recently cleared Adani of stock manipulation charges following allegations by the US short-selling firm Hindenburg Research in 2023. One thing is clear: this legal battle is raising big questions about India’s free speech future. Will journalists face more court orders before they can even tell their side? India’s democracy and free press seem to be in a thrilling, tense showdown.

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Tags: Adani group, Press freedom, Gag order, Indian media, Defamation lawsuit, Digital censorship,