Gujarat, Adani firm get notice on journalist’s plea over non-bailable warrant

The Gujarat High Court has issued a notice to the Gujarat government and Adani Enterprises following a petition filed by journalist Ravi Nair. The petition challenges a non-bailable warrant issued against Nair by a Gandhinagar sessions court, leading to his arrest and imprisonment on September 17. The High Court's single-judge bench ordered the notice to be issued to the respondents and set the petition for further hearing on Monday.

In February, a magisterial court in Mansa of Gandhinagar district convicted Nair of criminal defamation based on complaints filed by Adani Enterprises Limited. The court sentenced him to one year of simple imprisonment and fined him Rs 5,000 for tweets made between October 2020 and July 2021 as well as articles published on a website. Nair appealed the conviction to a sessions court, which granted him bail, contingent upon him appearing in court during the appeal hearing.

On September 3, Nair failed to appear in court, submitted an application for exemption from personal appearance due to poor health and travel requirements, and was rejected. The sessions court subsequently issued a non-bailable warrant against Nair. On September 17, Nair appeared in court and sought the cancellation of the NBW, claiming it was issued without proper procedures. However, the court rejected his application and ordered his judicial custody, ultimately sending him to jail.

Nair's lawyers argued that the matter was urgent as it pertained to his personal liberty. The court acknowledged the submissions and ruled that a notice be issued, with the matter to be returned on September 21.