Journalist Ravi Nair Withdraws Supreme Court Plea in Adani-LIC Forgery FIR

Special leave petition withdrawn

Journalist Ravi Nair has withdrawn his special leave petition challenging the Gujarat High Court’s refusal to quash an FIR arising from a Washington Post article on LIC investments in the Adani Group. The Supreme Court recorded that he may raise his grievances at the appropriate stage and before the appropriate forum after the charge-sheet is filed.

Allegations under the BNS

The FIR, initiated following a complaint by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd., alleges cheating, forgery and use of forged documents under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 336(4) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Nair had argued that a pending defamation complaint based on the same article made the FIR an abuse of process and that denial of the documents by LIC did not establish forgery.

The Gujarat High Court had concluded that the disputed documents required investigation. Withdrawal of the SLP is not a finding on guilt and preserves the journalist’s right to challenge the prosecution at a legally appropriate stage.