The Calcutta High Court has issued an interim order directing tech platforms to block access to a defamatory video against Adani Enterprises Limited titled “How Modi and Adani Stole India- The Friendship Files”. Posted by Indian-American entrepreneur and YouTube creator Sabeer Bhatia, the content allegedly raises severe allegations of terror funding and narcotics smuggling.

Justice Aryak Dutt was on October 26 dealing with a civil defamation plea by Adani Enterprises Limited seeking monetary compensation for the harm caused to the company’s reputation and goodwill due to the alleged false and defamatory allegations in the video, along with removal of the six-minute video from various social media platforms.

“Constructive criticism or truthful reporting on the petitioner or on Government policy, backed by evidence, is not barred. Online content spreads quickly through reposts and re-uploads, and the injury to reputation from continued republication cannot be adequately compensated in money.…