Law & Justice
Adani Enterprises Seeks ₹50 Crore in Defamation Suit Against Hotmail Co‑Founder Over Modi‑Adani Documentary
Adani Enterprises has filed a ₹50 crore defamation suit against Hotmail co‑founder Sabeer Bhatia over a documentary that examines the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and billionaire Gautam Adani. The Calcutta High Court has ordered the removal of the 36‑minute film, titled "The Friendship Files: How Modi and Adani Stole India", from social media platforms including YouTube, X and Meta‑owned Instagram. The court also barred Bhatia from further disseminating the video. The interim injunction, issued by Justice Aryak Dutt, will remain in force until January 31, 2027, or until further orders, and the case is expected to be heard again in January.
Adani Enterprises alleges that the documentary contains false and defamatory claims and omits material facts. The company said the content prompted inquiries from some investors and has harmed its reputation. The court described the film as a dramatized narrative rather than a news report or an account of legal proceedings. It noted that allegations of the Adani Group’s involvement in narcotics smuggling linked to terror funding or police violence against a farmer were not substantiated by any authority.
Bhatia, who is based in the United States, has disputed the action against him. In a post on X, he said the lawsuit seeks ₹50 crore in damages and maintained that the documentary had struck a nerve. He also wrote that he believes the documentary has rattled Adani Enterprises and struck a nerve at the highest levels.
The documentary was uploaded on October 9 in collaboration with a channel called Shadow Citizens. It uses archival footage to trace the relationship between Modi and Adani, both of whom hail from Gujarat, and raises questions about Adani’s successful bid for six airports in 2019 following a change in government rules. Critics have alleged that the rule change favored the Adani Group, a charge similar to allegations raised by the opposition Congress party. The Adani Group has denied such allegations, and the government has maintained that all regulations were followed and that there was no favouritism.
In its legal challenge, Adani Enterprises argued that the documentary presented false allegations and created a narrative against the company by suppressing material facts. It also said its action was not intended to prevent legitimate criticism of government policy or business concentration. The court ordered the removal of the specified video, clips, excerpts and materially identical reproductions from the relevant accounts and platforms, and directed social media platforms to disable access to the identified content and preserve relevant account and access records.
The court clarified that its order does not prevent constructive criticism or fair reporting on the Adani Group or government policy, provided it is not disseminated through the disputed video, its reproductions or the specified defamatory statements. The interim order requires the specified content to be removed from the relevant platforms and prevents its further circulation by the respondents. The matter is expected to return to court on January 31, 2027, or as directed by the court. The interim order does not constitute a final ruling on the merits of the defamation suit.