Adani Defamation Case: Gandhinagar Court Grants Bail To Journalist Ravi Nair, Likely To Be Released Tomorrow
The journalist was in custody since September 17 after the Gandhinagar court issued an NBW over his non-appearance during the hearing of his appeal against conviction
A Gandhinagar court has granted bail to journalist Ravi Nair in the criminal defamation case filed by Adani Enterprises Limited, paving the way for his release from judicial custody, likely on Friday.
Nair has been in custody since September 17 after the Gandhinagar District and Sessions Court issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him for failing to remain personally present during the hearing of his appeal against his conviction in the defamation case.
The development comes a day after the Gujarat High Court declined to grant him interim relief and reserved its order on Nair’s challenge to the NBW for September 30.
Justice M K Thakker of the High Court had observed that since the matter had already been heard and was kept for pronouncement, “no interim relief is required to be granted.”
Nair had separately moved the Gandhinagar Sessions Court seeking regular bail. The High Court had taken note of the bail plea during the hearing of his challenge to the NBW.
Against Gujarat HC's denial of interim relief, Nair had also moved the Supreme Court.
Today, an urgent mention was made on his behalf before the Chief Justice's court; however, CJI Kant refused to entertain the mention.
Nair was convicted in February
The proceedings arise from a criminal defamation complaint filed by Adani Enterprises over a series of posts published by Nair on X between October 2020 and July 2021, besides articles published online.
The posts concerned allegations and controversies surrounding the Adani Group, including matters relating to allegations raised by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research and a strike concerning the proposed privatisation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
On February 10, 2026, a Judicial Magistrate First Class court at Mansa in Gandhinagar district convicted Nair for criminal defamation and sentenced him to one year of simple imprisonment, besides imposing a fine of ₹5,000.
The magistrate had observed that Nair, being a journalist and public commentator, was expected to remain conscious of the reach and impact of categorical statements made on digital platforms, particularly where such statements could affect reputation.
Nair thereafter challenged the conviction before the Sessions Court.
Bail was granted during pendency of appeal
On March 9, the Sessions Court granted Nair bail while his appeal was pending and directed him to remain personally present during the appellate proceedings.
According to submissions made before the Gujarat High Court, Nair had appeared on several dates fixed in the appeal and had also obtained exemption from personal appearance on one occasion. His counsel disputed the Sessions Court's observation that he had remained absent for several months and opposed the description of Nair as “absconding.”
Nair, however, was not personally present at the September 3 hearing. His application seeking exemption from appearance was rejected, following which the appellate court issued the NBW.
The warrant was subsequently executed and Nair was taken into custody on September 17.
Nair challenged NBW before Gujarat HC
Nair approached the Gujarat High Court challenging the issuance and execution of the NBW and seeking release from custody.
His counsel, Advocate Abhik Chimni, argued before the High Court that the Sessions Court ought not to have issued a non-bailable warrant directly without first resorting to summons or a bailable warrant. Counsel also submitted that Nair had appeared at several hearings and that the finding that he had remained absent for six months was factually incorrect.
Senior Advocate Mitesh Amin, appearing for Adani Enterprises, opposed the plea and urged the High Court to examine Nair's conduct during the appellate proceedings.
The High Court ultimately reserved its order on Nair's challenge to the NBW and fixed September 30 for pronouncement.
It also noted that the warrant had already been executed and questioned why Nair had not disclosed before it that he had separately moved the Sessions Court seeking regular bail.
High Court had declined interim release
Nair's counsel had sought his release from custody pending the High Court's order. The plea was, however, declined by Justice Thakker on Wednesday.
The Court said that the matter had already been fully heard and was kept for dictation of the order, and therefore there was no requirement to grant interim relief.
With the Sessions Court now allowing Nair's regular bail plea, he is expected to be released from custody tomorrow, subject to completion of the necessary formalities.
The Gujarat High Court's order on his challenge to the NBW remains pending and is scheduled to be pronounced on September 30.
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