The Gujarat High Court on Monday (September 21) granted time to Adani Enterprise to file its response to a plea filed by journalist Ravi Nair's plea who has challenged his arrest after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him by a sessions court for non-appearance in a defamation case filed by the company.

The court had issued notice on the plea on Saturday.

Adani Enterprises Ltd filed the criminal defamation case alleging that Ravi Nair published and disseminated a series of tweets containing false and defamatory statements intended to damage the reputation of AEL and the Adani Group.

Nair has challenged a September 17 order by the sessions court which rejected his plea for cancellation of NBW and directed that he be sent to jail. He has also challenged a September 3 order by which the trial court held that Nair is an absconder and is absconding himself to avoid arrest in any offence.

He also sought restoration of a March 9 order wherein his order of conviction was suspended and he was released on bail. 

At the outset Justice MK Thakker orally asked as to why the non-bailable warrant was issued and why Nair was taken to custody.

The senior counsel appearing for Adani sought some time before to file a reply stating he wanted to place some facts. Meanwhile Advocate Abhik Chimni appearing for Nair opposed the request and said that he was pressing for interim relief and the respondent no. 2 had no position to say anything as it was a private party. Chimni said that the case was at an appellate stage and not trial and further questioned as to why Nair should spend even one day in jail.

"Learned senior counsel seeks time to file an affidavit placing on record some legal points along with factual background and request for time. Mr. Chimni appearing for petitioner objected for request for time.

However, in the opinion of this court when complainant is represented on issuance of notice fair opportunity is required to be given. It is clarified that no further adjournments," the court dictated in its order. 

During the hearing on Saturday, Nair's counsel submitted without issuing any notice or summons, a Non-Bailable Warrant came to be issued directly against him. It is further submitted that, when Nair approached the Appellate Court seeking cancellation of the Non-Bailable Warrant by filing an application, it was rejected and he was taken into custody.

"Considering the submissions advanced by learned advocate, let Notice be issued, making it returnable on 21.09.2026," the high court had said in its order. 

On 10.02.2026, the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mansa held Nair guilty of the offence of defamation, convicted and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for a term of one year and to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000.

Aggrieved, Nair preferred an appeal before the sessions court which had allowed his application and suspended his sentence subject to the conditions that he shall regularly remain present, shall not leave India without the prior permission of that Court, shall deposit his passport, and shall furnish and not change his residential address and mobile number without prior permission.

Nair has said that he is not a resident of the State of Gujarat and ordinarily resides in Kerala, at a considerable distance from Gandhinagar. Attendance upon each and every date of hearing of the appeal therefore entails substantial travel, expense and hardship for him.

He said that he was at all material times, duly represented before the appellate Court through his Advocate, who remained present on every date of hearing, and that the hearing of the appeal was never delayed or obstructed on account of the Petitioner.

The plea seeks quashing and setting aside of the sessions court's order. 

Case title: Ravi Nair v/s State of Gujarat & Anr. 

R/SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION (QUASHING) NO. 13853 of 2026

Appearance: MR PRATIKKUMAR B RUPALA for the Applicant(s) No. 1

MR ABHIK CHIMNI WITH RONITH JOY for the Applicant(s) No. 1

MR MEET THAKKAR, ADDL.PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s) No. 1

Click Here To Read/Download Order Dated September 19