Gujarat High Court Upholds FIR Against Journalist Ravi Nair Over Washington Post Article Alleging Govt Directed LIC Investments In Adani Group

Justice M. R. Mengdey observed that mere pendency of a private complaint on the same set of facts alleging defamation would not make the present FIR an abuse of process of law:

“Though the facts mentioned in the private complaint as well as in the impugned FIR may be the same, the allegations levelled against the petitioner in the impugned FIR are altogether different and prima facie make out a cognizable offence against the petitioner. Merely because the Respondent No.2 [Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd.] has lodged a private complaint for an offence of defamation, he cannot be precluded from taking recourse to law for the alleged cognizable offence committed by the petitioner.”

The Court noted that the existence of the documents relied on by Nair in his article were disputed by the LIC as well the Central Ministry of Finance and added:

“the existence of such documents is under the clouds and they primafacie appear to be forged one. It is for the investigating agency to find out the truth as regards those documents.”

Nair had published an article in the Washington Post on October 24, 2025 claiming that LIC invested USD 3.9 Billion in the Adani Group. He had relied on documents purportedly issued by the LIC or the Department of Financial Services.

After the article was published, LIC made a declaration in its social media account that the documents mentioned in the article were not issued or receive by it. It also stated that the investment was not made under any external influence. A similar communication was also made by the Department of Financial Services saying that no such documents were ever prepared by it.

Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd. lodged a private complaint alleging defamation. Thereafter, the present FIR was registered alleging commission of offences punishable under Sections 318(4) [Cheating], 336(2), 336(4) [Forgery], 340(2) [Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Ravi had earlier approached the Supreme Court but subsequently withdrew the case with liberty to approach the High Court.

Ravi contended before the High Court that the present FIR was an abuse of process of law when the defamation complaint on same set of facts is pending. Since no inquiry was ordered in the complaint, the present FIR was registered to harass him. He added that merely because LIC denied the article and the documents, the same would not become forged. He thus sought to quash the FIR.

The prosecution pointed out that the forgery aspect needs to be probed. It was added that Ravi was not cooperating with the investigation.

The senior counsel for Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd. pointed out that Ravi concealed the fact that he had earlier approached the Apex Court and therefore, a false statement was made by him. He also argued that since FIR could not be lodged for defamation, private complaint was made. Moreover, the said complaint would not preclude him from lodging an FIR for other offences.

The Court was of the view that the allegations in the FIR and private complaint were different. Opining that investigation is necessary to find out about the truth of the documents relied on, the Court refused to quash the FIR.

Thus, it dismissed the plea.

Case No: R/SCR.A/9270/2026

Case Title: Ravi Nair v. State of Gujarat and Anr.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 221

Counsel for the petitioner: Abhik Chimni, Arjun M. Joshi

Counsel for the respondents: N.D. Nanavaty (Sr. Advocate), Bhadrish S. Raju, Dhanesh R. Patel, J.K.Shah – appearing for the State

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