Indian Journalist Sentenced One Year in Adani Defamation Case; 'Convict' Writes 'HUM DEKHENGE'

Reacting to the court's decision, journalist Ravi Nair posted the line "Hum Dekhenge" from Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poetry on his X account.

New Delhi: Indian businessman Gautam Adani, who is accused of paying a $250 million bribe in the US, is continuously trying to suppress the voices of journalists in his country. He is using his wealth, influence, and 'army of lawyers' to do this. Adani's latest victim is independent journalist Ravi Nair, who was sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 5,000 rupees (INR) on February 10, 2026, by the Magistrate Court in Mansa, Gandhinagar district, Gujarat State, in a defamation case involving the Adani Group.

Reacting to the court's decision, journalist Ravi Nair posted the line "Hum Dekhenge" from Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poetry on his X account. Nair writes for several media outlets in India and abroad, including The Wire, NewsClick, and Frontline. He is also associated with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). It is an international network of journalists, that investigates news related to organized crime and corruption.

Hum dekhenge 🦾

— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) February 10, 2026

This case relates to a criminal complaint filed by Adani Enterprises Limited (AEML) in September 2021. The company alleged that between October 2020 and July 2021, Nair posted several tweets and news reports on his X account and the website 'adaniwatch.org', accusing the Adani Group of corruption, crony capitalism, circumvention of environmental laws, misuse of government agencies, and unethical business practices.

Adani Enterprises Limited stated that the allegations against it were false and unsubstantiated and were presented in a manner that damaged its reputation with investors, regulators, and the public. The company argued that the Adani Group operates in a sector with strict regulations, and such allegations directly impact its credibility and reputation.

Ravi Nair, meanwhile, denied the allegations, stating that his posts were journalistic and commenting on issues of public interest. He argued that his posts were based on publicly available information and fell within the right to freedom of expression. He described it as fair criticism rather than defamation.

But the court rejected Ravi Nair's arguments. The court stated that the social media posts and news were not merely criticisms of opinions or policies, but rather direct and serious allegations against the Adani Group that were not sufficiently substantiated. The court stated that freedom of expression does not mean making accusations without substantial evidence. The court also stated that Nair failed to prove that his statements were true, made in good faith, or protected by law.

The court refused to grant Ravi Nair probation, stating that as a journalist, he should have had a better understanding of the impact and responsibility of serious allegations on digital platforms.

Ravi Nair is one of India's leading financial investigative journalists. He has exposed numerous financial irregularities and made numerous revelations about the collusion of Adani, Ambani, and other big capitalists with the government.

Journalist organizations have stated that such lawsuits indicate pressure on press freedom and could seriously impact independent journalism. The ongoing court proceedings demonstrate the legal risks journalists face when reporting against large corporate groups.

Defamation lawsuits filed against Adani have so far included several journalists and researchers, who have been ordered by courts to remove or cease reporting. These lawsuits include Paranjoy Gupta Thakurta, Abir Dasgupta, Ayushanta Das, and Ayush Joshi. They are accused of making "indirect" or "untrue" claims while publishing material against the business group.