Ravish Kumar Moves Delhi HC Against Centre’s Directive to Remove Content on Adani Enterprises

Journalist Ravish Kumar has moved the Delhi High Court, challenging a directive of the Central Government asking him to take down allegedly defamatory videos on his YouTube channel relating to Adani Group and its companies.

The matter will be heard by Justice Sachin Datta on Monday.

In his plea filed through advocate Shantanu Derhgawen, Kumar has argued that the order “strikes at the heart of press freedom, which is recognized as the lifeblood of democracy.” He contends that his content falls within the sphere of journalism the Constitution is meant to protect, namely investigations into matters of public concern, corporate accountability, and democratic oversight of powerful institutions.

He has further assailed the directive as an instance of administrative overreach lacking statutory backing, arguing that the government cannot act as the sole arbiter of whether user-generated content is fake, false, or misleading.

The petition prays for the issuance of an appropriate writ, order, or direction quashing the impugned order dated 16.09.2025, and for declaring it unconstitutional, ultra vires, and violative of Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India.

Notably, a similar petition has been filed by digital news platform Newslaundry, challenging a directive of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) seeking removal of content related to Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL). The plea assails an MIB communication dated September 16, 2025, which directed the platform to take action in compliance with an ex parte gag order passed by the Rohini District Court.

The order, dated 6 September, was issued against journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and several others, restraining them from publishing allegedly defamatory content concerning Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) on websites and social media platforms. It was passed by Senior Civil Judge Anuj Kumar Singh of the Rohini Courts in a civil suit filed by AEL. The company alleged that a sustained defamatory campaign by journalists, activists, and organisations had damaged its global reputation, disrupted projects, and shaken investor confidence.

Taking cognisance, the Delhi court registered the suit, issued summons to the defendants, and directed service through multiple modes, including registered post, electronic means such as WhatsApp and email, and dasti service.

The Delhi court ordered, "The plaintiff is given opportunity to apply to intermediaries/concerned agencies with details of the URLs/posts/hyperlinks/articles on the basis of this order and intermediaries/concerned agencies are directed to take down/remove the alleged defamatory articles/posts/URLs whereby the prime facie defamatory material is published against the plaintiff within 36 hours, however they shall preserve the contents and record till further orders from this Court."

The judge observed that AEL had established a prima facie case, with the balance of convenience in its favour, since further circulation of unverified content could deepen reputational harm and inflict irreparable loss on investors and stakeholders.

However, on Thursday, a Delhi court set aside the Rohini trial court’s sweeping restraint order that had barred journalists Ravi Nair, Abir Dasgupta, Ayaskant Das, and Ayush Joshi from publishing allegedly defamatory reports against AEL. The appellate court stressed that broad pre-publication restrictions were legally unsustainable. The court also highlighted the impact of the earlier order, noting that it effectively allowed the plaintiff to approach intermediaries for removal of material it considered defamatory. “An incorrect determination by intermediaries would bring those who have not complied with it in the teeth of contempt,” the judge remarked. Accordingly, the order was set aside, but its effect was limited to the appellants before the court.

The connected appeal by senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta in the matter is pending before another judge of the same court. That bench has reserved its order.

Instant petition will now be heard on Monday, September 22, 2025.

Case Title: Ravish Kumar vs Union of India

Hearing Expected: 22 September 2025

Bench: Justice Sachin Datta