The Supreme Court of India on Monday refused to hear a petition filed by journalist Ravi Nair challenging a notice issued by the Gujarat Crime Branch in connection with an article related to Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd.. The court directed the journalist to seek relief from the jurisdictional High Court instead.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta dismissed the petition after allowing it to be withdrawn, granting Nair the liberty to approach the appropriate High Court for further legal remedies.
Nair had moved the apex court challenging a February 12, 2026 notice issued by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch. The notice asked him to appear before the authorities on February 19 for a preliminary inquiry related to an article published in The Washington Post last year. The article, titled “India’s $3.9 billion plan to help Modi’s mogul ally after U.S. charges,” was co-authored by Nair and journalist Pranshu Verma.
During the hearing, senior advocate Anand Grover, representing Nair, argued that the journalist was being repeatedly harassed through multiple cases allegedly initiated by the Adani Group. He contended that the Crime Branch had acted without proper jurisdiction and that the petition raised concerns regarding the journalist’s right to free speech.
However, the Supreme Court questioned why the petition had been filed directly under Article 32 of the Constitution, which allows citizens to approach the apex court for enforcement of fundamental rights, instead of first seeking relief from the relevant High Court.
Grover maintained that the matter involved the protection of fundamental rights. When the bench remained unconvinced, he requested interim protection from coercive action until Nair could approach the High Court. The court declined the request, noting that the petitioner could quickly seek relief through the High Court, even via e-filing.
Meanwhile, Adani Enterprises Limited had earlier filed a criminal defamation complaint against Nair, alleging that he published tweets containing false and defamatory statements intended to harm the reputation of the company and the Adani Group.
In February 2026, a Gujarat court convicted Nair in the case and sentenced him to one year of imprisonment along with a fine of ₹5,000. Judicial First Class Magistrate Damini Dixit held him guilty under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with criminal defamation. The court rejected Nair’s argument that his social media posts were fair comment and legitimate criticism on matters of public interest and governance.
