Kolkata, October 27: The Calcutta High Court has ordered the immediate removal of a viral video that accused Adani Enterprises founder Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of crony capitalism. Acting on a defamation suit filed by the Adani Group, the court has directed YouTube and other digital media to take down the clips.
This judicial intervention has bought the close frindship between PM Modi and Gautam Adani to the fore, as the video in question has showed how Adani benefitted from PM Modi’s rise as he scaled up his ports to airports empire.
Sabeer Bhatia, Hotmail co-founder, has been at the center of the controversy, with the Adani Group suing him for Rs.50 crore for defaming him in the video.
“I contend that wealth acquired through alleged wrongdoing does not confer credibility or reputation,” he posted on X.
“My valuation of that reputation? ₹0.
And if the reputational damage is zero, the compensation should be zero,” he further claimed.
The video, titled ‘The Friendship Files | How Modi and Adani Stole India | Full Documentary (2026)’ explains how the friendship between Adani amdn Modi showed how state favourtism, corporate consolidation and economic policies have been bent to favour Adani and its companies. Representatives of the Adani Group argued before Judge Aryak Dutt that the commentary contained defamatory statements and unverified allegation, damaging corporate reputation and public standing.
“I’m shocked by Justice Aryak’s judgment. I’m no lawyer, but I believe it strikes at the very foundation of democracy-the fundamental right to free speech. A judgment that silences citizens for speaking their minds threatens the constitutional freedoms of every Indian,” Sabeer further posted on the verdict by the Calcutta HC.
