Gujarat HC stays non-bailable warrant against journalist in APSEZ defamation case

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court has stayed the execution of an arrest warrant issued on June 23 by a Gandhinagar court against independent journalist Ravi Nair in a criminal defamation case filed by Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) over an article he co-authored with former Washington Post bureau chief Pranshu Verma.APSEZ filed criminal defamation proceedings over an article published on WP’s online edition on Oct 24, 2025. The article alleged that the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) invested $3.9 billion in Adani Group companies at the behest of the Government of India.APSEZ claimed reputational harm, pointing out that LIC denied the claim the next day, and contended that the publication was based on false information.Acting on the complaint, JMFC Hardik Trivedi ordered prosecution of Nair and Verma on April 20 under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (criminal defamation) and Section 3(5) relating to common intention. The court said, “It appears at first glance that this act harmed the company’s reputation and that forged documents were relied upon for that purpose.”A criminal case was formally registered against the two journalists on April 22.

Nair challenged the proceedings before the high court on May 8.After Nair did not appear before the JMFC court in response to the summons, the court on June 23 issued a non-bailable warrant. Before the high court, Nair questioned the trial court’s issuance of an NBW before issuing a bailable warrant. His counsel attributed his absence to ill health and said he would appear before the trial court online on July 9, and physically on July 21.Justice M R Mengdey granted interim protection recording the undertaking, “Upon the aforesaid statement being made by the learned advocate appearing for the Petitioner, the warrant issued against the Petitioner shall not be executed till the next date.”Further hearing in the high court is on July 28.On Feb 10, a JMFC court in Mansa convicted Nair in a separate criminal defamation case concerning posts on social media platform X and sentenced him to one year in jail. His appeal against that conviction is pending before a Gandhinagar sessions court.On May 30, APSEZ lodged an FIR with the Detection of Crime Branch, Ahmedabad, alleging that the article was based on forged and fabricated information and was published with the intent to defame the company.