The Rohini District Court in Delhi has reserved its judgment on a petition filed by senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, who has challenged an injunction restraining him from publishing or circulating articles about Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL).

The order under challenge was passed ex parte on September 6, directing that certain publications, websites, and online platforms take down allegedly defamatory material against the Adani Group. Thakurta approached the court seeking to have the order lifted, contending that it amounts to a sweeping gag on reporting and undermines press freedom.

Appearing for Thakurta, Senior Advocate Trideep Pais argued that the injunction is overly broad and lacks precision. He submitted that the court had not identified which parts of the articles or which specific URLs contained defamatory content, yet the order effectively allowed Adani Enterprises to dictate takedowns. He also stressed that many of the reports in question had been in the public domain for several years before the injunction was sought, making the urgency claimed by the company questionable.

On the other hand, Senior Advocate Anurag Ahluwalia, representing AEL, defended the order as necessary to prevent further damage to the company’s reputation. He asserted that coordinated campaigns had caused immense harm to the Adani Group’s brand value and investor confidence, and that interim protection was justified until the court could fully assess the merits of the defamation claims.

A central issue debated was whether the trial court had properly balanced competing interests: the right of a corporate entity to protect its reputation against the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression. While Thakurta’s counsel described the order as disproportionate and unlawful, the company maintained that it was a legitimate safeguard against the continued spread of unverified allegations.

Judge Sunil Chaudhary, after hearing extensive arguments, noted the complexities involved and reserved the verdict. The decision is expected on September 18.

The outcome of this case is likely to have significant implications for the interplay between defamation law and journalistic freedom in India, particularly in an era where digital platforms amplify both investigative reporting and reputational harm.

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