Journalist Ravi Nair has escalated his legal battle to the Supreme Court, seeking release from incarceration following his arrest in a high-profile criminal defamation case initiated by the Adani Group. This move comes after Nair’s earlier conviction in the case, which he has been contesting through an appeal.
Initially, Nair had been granted bail while his appeal was under consideration. However, a twist in the proceedings occurred when he was taken back into custody on September 17. The arrest followed the issuance of a non-bailable warrant due to his non-appearance in the appellate court.
Back in February, the judicial magistrate delivered a ruling convicting Nair of criminal defamation. The conviction was based on a case filed by the Adani Group, which accused Nair of publishing a series of tweets and articles that allegedly defamed the company. These publications were claimed to have exceeded the boundaries of fair criticism, thus constituting criminal defamation, according to the magistrate’s decision.
The original complaint, lodged by the Adani Group in September 2021, centered on Nair’s social media activity from October 2020 to July 2021. During this period, Nair reportedly used his X (formerly Twitter) account and the website “adaniwatch.org” to disseminate allegations against the Adani Group. These allegations included charges of corruption, crony capitalism, environmental law manipulation, misuse of government agencies, and unethical business operations.
Following his conviction, Nair sought recourse by filing an appeal with a sessions court, which allowed him bail pending the appeal’s resolution. His failure to attend a scheduled court appearance earlier this month prompted the issuance of a non-bailable warrant, leading to his re-arrest. Despite appearing before the sessions court to contest the warrant, his plea was dismissed, resulting in his remand to judicial custody.
Subsequently, Nair petitioned the Gujarat High Court for immediate release. Justice MK Thakker presided over the proceedings, ultimately reserving judgment but declining to grant interim relief. The court announced its intention to deliver a verdict on September 30, stating, “As this matter has been heard and the matter is kept for dictation of the order, no interim relief is required to be granted.”
In light of these developments, Nair has now approached the Supreme Court, seeking a resolution from India’s highest judicial authority.
