The Calcutta High Court has issued an interim injunction prohibiting the publication and circulation of a documentary concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani until January 31, 2027, or until further orders. The Court also directed social media platforms, including YouTube, X and Instagram, to remove the disputed content and preserve information relating to accounts involved in its circulation.
Justice Aryak Dutt passed the order on Monday while hearing a defamation plea filed by Adani Enterprises Limited against tech entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia, who allegedly created the documentary, and other respondents.
The company has sought damages for defamation and restrictions on the video’s circulation, alleging that it contains false statements concerning the petitioner.
Social Media Platforms Directed to Remove Content
The Court prohibited the respondents, including the owners and operators of YouTube, X and Instagram, their agents and persons acting under their authority, from distributing the documentary or any substantially identical version through digital platforms or other media.
The restrictions cover fresh uploads, republication, sharing and circulation of clips or excerpts from the disputed video.
Justice Dutt further directed the respondents to immediately remove the documentary and any related content containing the allegedly defamatory statements from accounts, channels and pages under their control.
The social media companies were instructed to block access to the video at the URLs identified in the petition. The order also requires them to disable associated engagements, including reposts, quote posts and shares, through which the content remains accessible at those links.
Court Orders Preservation of Account Records
Apart from removing the content, the High Court directed YouTube, X and Instagram to retain subscriber information, registration records, IP logs recorded during uploads and access logs connected with the accounts and URLs mentioned in the petition.
For accounts whose holders cannot be identified from the available details, the platforms must disclose basic subscriber information through an affidavit submitted in a sealed cover.
The Court gave the platforms two weeks from communication of the order to comply with this disclosure requirement.
Fair Reporting and Constructive Criticism Not Restricted
While granting interim protection, Justice Dutt clarified that the injunction does not impose a general prohibition on criticism of Adani Enterprises, the Adani Group or government policies.
The Court expressly preserved the scope for constructive criticism and fair reporting, provided such expression does not involve the disputed documentary, its reproductions or the defamatory statements identified in the proceedings.
The clarification limits the injunction to the specific material challenged by the petitioner rather than restricting independent discussion of the subjects covered by the documentary.
Adani Enterprises Cites Continued Circulation Despite YouTube Restrictions
During the proceedings, Adani Enterprises informed the vacation bench that the original YouTube upload had already become inaccessible within India.
According to the petitioner, the restriction appeared to have followed a government complaint under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
However, the company maintained that the content continued to circulate through fresh uploads on other YouTube channels, posts on X and reels on Instagram.
Counsel representing the Adani Group disputed the allegations made in the documentary and submitted that the right to reputation forms an integral part of the protection guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Matter to Be Heard Again in January
The interim injunction will operate until January 31, 2027, unless the Court issues further directions before that date.
Justice Dutt directed the respondents to submit their affidavits-in-opposition within four weeks of service of the order. Adani Enterprises has been given another two weeks thereafter to file its affidavit-in-reply.
The case will be placed before the regular bench in the monthly list for January 2027.
