In a significant development, a Delhi court has restrained certain journalists and NGOs from publishing or circulating unverified defamatory content against Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL). The interim injunction, passed on Saturday, also directed the removal of alleged defamatory material from websites, social media posts, and videos within five days.
Allegations of Coordinated Defamation
The order was passed in response to a civil suit filed by AEL, which alleged that websites like paranjoy.in, adaniwatch.org, and adanifiles.com.au carried coordinated and defamatory publications. The company argued these were part of a broader attempt to damage its reputation and disrupt global operations.
Defendants Named in the Case
The defendants in the case include journalists Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Ravi Nair, Abir Dasgupta, Ayaskanta Das, Ayush Joshi, along with foreign-linked entities like Bob Brown Foundation, Dreamscape Network International, Getup Limited, and Domain Directors Private Limited (trading as Instra). The court also included unnamed “John Doe” persons.
Court’s Observations
The court noted that there was a prima facie case in favour of the plaintiff and that continued publication and circulation of the disputed content could further tarnish AEL’s reputation. “Continual forwarding, publishing, or re-tweeting may result in a media trial and irreparable damage,” the court observed, adding that defendants must remove or expunge unverified allegations from their platforms.
Legal Arguments and Free Speech Balance
Appearing for AEL, Advocate Vijay Aggarwal argued that unchecked dissemination of baseless allegations had not only harmed the company but also caused incalculable damage to investors and India’s brand image globally. He stressed that while free speech is vital, it cannot override the right to reputation under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Directions to Intermediaries
If defendants fail to comply, intermediaries such as Google, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) have been instructed to remove or disable access to the alleged defamatory content within 36 hours of notification. The matter will next be heard on October 9.
