By L A Adithya
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry ordered the removal of 138 YouTube videos and 83 Instagram posts that are even remotely related to Gautam Adani, the industrialist, on Tuesday, September 16. The Centre stated that these orders come from an ex parte order by the NorthWest Delhi district court in a defamation case appealed by Adani Enterprises.
The ones under scrutiny are two media houses, YouTubers, and journalists, including Ravish Kumar, Akash Banerjee from DeshBhakt, Dhruv Rathee, and surprisingly, the online news organisation Newslaundry. The online news platform has been ordered to take down 42 of its videos, which mention Adani or the Adani Group.
The Wire was also one of the media houses involved in this conflict with the industrialist facing defamation charges for merely stating the allegations made by the US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) against Adani on an Instagram post, which are part of public records.
Journalists’ articles and social posts have also been under fire and ordered to be taken down on allegations posed by the Adani Group.
However, the ex parte order only applies to the journalists in the case.
The organisations and journalists in question failed to comply with the court order of September 6 within the stipulated time, the ministry accused in its letter.
Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, one of the journalists, responded to this defamation case filed against him by exclaiming his intentions to fight it all out fair and square. He claims to put his faith and trust in the Indian judiciary and argues that all his statements are factual and truthful and that he is waiting for the opportunity to put forth his arguments in the court.