The Calcutta High Court has granted an ad-interim injunction restraining the circulation of a video titled “How Modi and Adani Stole India: The Friendship Files” following a defamation suit filed by Adani Enterprises Limited. Justice Aryak Dutt directed the respondents to remove the video and its materially identical reproductions from specified online accounts and URLs.
The injunction will remain in force until January 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The Court clarified that its observations are prima facie and that the order does not prohibit fair reporting or constructive criticism.
Background
According to the plaint, the approximately 36-minute video was uploaded to a YouTube channel operated by Sabeer Bhatia on October 9, 2026, and was also shared on his X account. Adani Enterprises alleged that the video contained false and defamatory allegations against the company and the wider Adani Group.
The company further submitted that although access to the original YouTube upload had been disabled in India following a government complaint, copies continued to circulate through other YouTube channels, X accounts and Instagram reels. It sought damages for defamation and permanent and mandatory injunctions against the respondents, including the platforms hosting the content.
Adani Enterprises argued that the material harmed its reputation and that continued online circulation could not be adequately addressed through monetary compensation alone.
Justice Dutt acknowledged that pre-trial injunctions in defamation cases involving matters of public interest require particular caution. Referring to the Supreme Court's decision in Bloomberg Television Production Services India Private Limited v. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, the Court considered the need to protect reputation while avoiding unnecessary restrictions on public discussion.
The order states:
“I am conscious that a pre-trial injunction in an action for defamation, touching matters of public interest, must be granted with great caution.”
After examining the material placed before it, the Court considered the case to fall within the exceptional category warranting interim protection. It noted that the video presented serious allegations as factual assertions and that the material before the Court did not show any finding by an authority supporting certain allegations concerning narcotics smuggling linked to terror funding and the alleged targeting of a farmer.
The Court also took note of the alleged reposting of the video after the original upload had been disabled in India.
On the scope of the relief, the order records:
“The restraint is confined to one identified video, its clips and its materially identical reproductions, and to the defamatory imputations contained in it as pleaded in paragraph 17 of the petition. Constructive criticism or truthful reporting on the petitioner or on Government policy, backed by evidence, is not barred.”
The Court restrained the respondents and persons acting under their authority from publishing, sharing or circulating the video, its clips and materially identical reproductions containing the specified allegedly defamatory statements. It directed the relevant platforms to remove or disable access to the identified URLs and associated reposts and shares.
YouTube, X and Instagram were also directed to preserve specified account information, IP logs and access records, disclose basic subscriber information for unidentified account holders in a sealed cover, and stop serving advertisements or sharing revenue from the identified content. The platforms must file affidavits detailing compliance within two weeks of communication of the order.
The matter was directed to be listed before the Regular Bench in January 2027. The interim injunction will continue until January 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Case Details
Case Title: Adani Enterprises Limited v. Sabeer Bhatia and Others
Case Number: CS No. 75 of 2026; IA/GA No. 1 of 2026
Judge: Justice Aryak Dutt
Decision Date: October 26, 2026
