Journalist Ravi Nair moves Supreme Court against arrest in Adani defamation case

Journalist Ravi Nair has approached the Supreme Court seeking release from prison in connection with a criminal defamation case filed against him by the Adani Group.Nair, who was convicted in the case earlier this year, had been released on bail during the pendency of his appeal, but was again taken into custody on September 17 following the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against him for not appearing before the appellate court..In February, a magistrate convicted Nair in a criminal defamation case filed by the Adani Group in connection with a series of tweets and online articles accusing the Adani Group of numerous unethical practices. The Court ruled that the content went beyond fair criticism and amounted to criminal defamation. The case stemmed from a criminal complaint filed by the Adani Group in September 2021.The company alleged that between October 2020 and July 2021, Nair published multiple tweets from his X (formerly Twitter) handle and articles on a website called “adaniwatch.org”, accusing the Adani Group corruption, crony capitalism, manipulation of environmental laws, misuse of government agencies and unethical business practices..Following his conviction, he filed an appeal before a sessions court to challenge the verdict delivered by the judicial magistrate. The Court released him on bail during the pendency of the appeal. However, since he failed to appear before the Court earlier this month, a non-bailable warrant was issued against him.Nair then appeared before the sessions court and challenged the issuance of the non-bailable warrant. However, the Court rejected his plea and sent him to judicial custody. He then moved the High Court seeking immediate release from custody.Justice MK Thakker of Gujarat High Court heard the matter and reserved her verdict but declined to release him in the interim. The Court said it will pronounce the order on September 30, Wednesday.When Nair's counsel pressed for interim release, the High Court said,"As this matter has been heard and the matter is kept for dictation of the order, no interim relief is required to be granted."This prompted him to approach the Supreme Court.