The Calcutta High Court has issued a sweeping order prohibiting the streaming, posting, and republishing of a video titled *“The Friendship Files| How Modi and Adani Stole India”* produced by Indian-American tech entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia in collaboration with the channel Shadow Citizens. The restraining order, which stems from defamation proceedings initiated by Adani Enterprises, will remain effective until January 31, 2027, when the case returns to court.
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## Court Grants Injunction Pending Final Hearing
Justice Aryak Dutt issued the injunction after determining that the video, originally published on October 9 across YouTube and X, contains allegations that the Adani Group is involved in or protected from wrongdoing—specifically, narcotics smuggling tied to terror funding and abuses against a farmer—that are not supported by any credible authority.
Notably, the Court remarked that though the video had been disabled at one point, Bhatia later re-uploaded it. This act suggested, to the Court, a lack of good faith.
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## Defamation Claim by Adani Enterprises
Adani Enterprises brought the suit against Sabeer Bhatia and others, arguing that the video’s content is false, omits key facts, and constructs a narrative harmful to the company’s image. It sought:
– Removal of the video from all platforms
– A prohibition on its circulation, uploads, and sharing
– Injunctions targeting the participants, including any YouTube channels or social media accounts involved in reposting or hosting it
According to court records, the video had already garnered over 80,000 views combined on YouTube and X prior to the order.
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## Court’s Rationale and Safeguards
Though the video was blocked, the High Court clarified that its decision does *not* infringe upon the right to “constructive criticism or fair reporting” regarding Adani Enterprises or government policy. Such expressions, when based on evidence, remain protected under Indian law.
Justice Dutt emphasized that unverified, defamatory narratives have a greater potential for damage as they spread rapidly online. He noted that if the Court had delayed its ruling, the video’s further circulation via reposts and uploads would have rendered any future order ineffective.
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## Legal Representation & Next Steps
In court, Adani Enterprises was represented by Senior Advocate Anirban Ray, supported by advocates Sanjay Basu, Amit Kumar Nag, Piyush Agarwal, Shivangi Thard, Ranjabati Ray, Shrivalli Kajaria, and Debojyoti Das. Google appeared through Advocate Pragya Jain.
The dispute will be revisited on January 31, 2027. Until then, the video must stay offline, and any further online distribution is barred.
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## Broader Context
This ruling follows a government complaint which had already led to the video’s initial removal, citing lack of due diligence and potentially defamatory statements. However, despite that action, the video continued circulating across various social media platforms.
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The decision underscores the tension between free speech online and the protection of reputation in India. While the Court is adamant that legitimate critiques remain permissible, it has drawn a firm line against content containing serious allegations that lack verifiable evidence.
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