A court in Mansa has convicted journalist Ravi Nair in a criminal defamation case filed by Adani Enterprises Limited, sentencing him to one year of imprisonment. The case was heard in the Court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mansa, following a private complaint lodged by the company under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
According to the complaint, Ravi Nair published a series of tweets between October 2020 and July 2021 using the handle @t_d_h_nair. The company also alleged that he authored articles on the website adaniwatch.org. Adani Enterprises claimed that the posts contained defamatory allegations accusing the Adani Group of corruption, misuse of government agencies, environmental violations, and political patronage.
The company argued before the court that these statements were false and malicious, and that they caused reputational harm, particularly among investors, regulators, and the broader public. Following an inquiry under the Criminal Procedure Code, the court issued process against Nair and proceeded with the trial.
During the proceedings, Adani Enterprises examined three witnesses and submitted copies of the tweets and online articles as documentary evidence. The defence cross-examined the witnesses and contested the allegations, arguing that the content did not amount to defamation. It also raised questions regarding intent and whether any actual reputational damage had been proven.
After reviewing the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court concluded that the statements made in the tweets and articles amounted to criminal defamation under Section 500 IPC. The court held that the imputations harmed the reputation of the complainant company and therefore convicted Ravi Nair.
The judgment represents a notable development in cases concerning criminal defamation linked to social media content and online publications, highlighting the legal risks associated with digital commentary on corporate entities.
