- The conglomerate has accused Sharma, a YouTuber, and Parulekar, a blogger, of publishing false and defamatory content aimed at tarnishing its reputation
- The Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (Adalaj police station jurisdiction) issued the notices under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)
- The complaints invoke Sections 356 (1, 2, and 3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, equivalent to Sections 499, 500, and 501 of the IPC
NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 16
A magistrate’s court in Gandhinagar has issued notices totwo journalists – Abhisar Sharma and Raju Parulekar, directing them to appear on September 20, in connection with criminal defamation complaints filed by the Adani Group.
The conglomerate has accused Sharma, a YouTuber, and Parulekar, a blogger, of publishing false and defamatory content aimed at tarnishing its reputation.
Court Directions
The Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (Adalaj police station jurisdiction) issued the notices under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which requires magistrates to give the accused an opportunity to be heard before taking cognisance of an offence.
“Upon receiving the notice, both are required to appear personally or through their lawyers to present their side,” said Sanjay Thakkar, counsel for Adani Group.
Allegations Against the Journalists
- Abhisar Sharma: Allegedly uploaded a video on August 18, 2025, claiming that thousands of bighas of land in Assam had been allotted to Adani, linking it to political favours.
- Raju Parulekar: Allegedly made similar accusations through tweets and retweets since January 2025, alleging land grabs, scams, and undue benefits.
The complaints invoke Sections 356 (1, 2, and 3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, equivalent to Sections 499, 500, and 501 of the IPC, covering defamation.
Adani Group’s Stand
The company has dismissed the allegations as “baseless and misleading,” pointing out that the Gauhati High Court order of August 12, 2025, cited by the respondents, makes no reference to Adani.
It further clarified that Mahabal Cement Pvt Ltd, the firm central to the High Court case, has no connection with the Group.
Evidence Submitted
The material placed before the court includes:
- Sharma’s video and its transcript
- Parulekar’s social media posts
- The Gauhati High Court order
- Supporting documents
If admitted, the case could proceed to trial, where the accused face potential penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, fines, or both.
