Journalist Ravi Nair Withdraws Supreme Court Plea Over Gujarat FIR Linked to Adani-LIC Article

New Delhi, September 9, 2026: Journalist Ravi Nair has withdrawn his plea before the Supreme Court challenging a Gujarat FIR registered over an article concerning alleged investments by Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in the Adani Group.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta allowed Nair to withdraw the petition, while leaving it open for him to raise his legal objections at the appropriate stage and before the appropriate forum.

What Is the Case About?

The controversy relates to an article published by Nair in The Washington Post on October 24, 2025. The article alleged that LIC had invested around US$3.9 billion in the Adani Group under the influence or direction of the Central Government.

According to court records, the article relied on documents purportedly issued by LIC or the Department of Financial Services.

LIC subsequently denied that the documents were issued by it and said its investment decisions were made independently, following its approved policies and due diligence. The Department of Financial Services also reportedly denied the existence of the alleged documents.

Gujarat FIR Against Nair

An FIR was registered on May 29, 2026, at the Ahmedabad City D.C.B. Police Station.

The FIR includes allegations under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to cheating and forgery, including Sections 318(4), 336(2), 336(4) and 340(2).

The complaint was filed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd.

Nair had argued that the FIR amounted to an abuse of the legal process, particularly because an earlier private complaint concerning the same broad set of facts was already pending.

Gujarat High Court Had Earlier Refused to Quash FIR

Before approaching the Supreme Court, Nair had challenged the FIR before the Gujarat High Court.

The High Court declined to quash the proceedings, observing that the FIR involved cognizable offences that were distinct from the earlier defamation complaint and that the allegations concerning the authenticity of the documents required investigation.

The court also noted that merely having an earlier complaint based on similar facts does not automatically prevent registration of a subsequent FIR where separate cognizable offences are alleged.

Why Did Nair Withdraw the Supreme Court Plea?

During the Supreme Court hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Nair, submitted that the journalist would raise all his legal objections once the investigating agency files its charge sheet.

The Supreme Court accepted the submission and permitted the petition to be withdrawn, while specifically preserving Nair's right to raise his grievances at the appropriate stage before the appropriate forum.

What Happens Next?

The withdrawal does not amount to a finding of guilt against Nair, nor does it by itself decide the allegations contained in the FIR.

The investigation into the alleged documents and the circumstances surrounding their publication can continue. Nair will retain the opportunity to challenge the proceedings at the legally appropriate stage.

The case also raises broader questions about the balance between investigative powers, press freedom and the legal consequences of publishing disputed documents or allegations.

NewsDesk7 Key Points
Journalist: Ravi Nair
Issue: Gujarat FIR linked to an article on LIC-Adani investments
Article: Published in The Washington Post on October 24, 2025
FIR: Registered May 29, 2026, in Ahmedabad
Complainant: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd.
Supreme Court: Plea allowed to be withdrawn
Next stage: Nair can raise his objections before the appropriate forum after the investigation/charge-sheet stage

NewsDesk7 Take: The Supreme Court's order does not decide the underlying allegations. Nair has withdrawn the present challenge with liberty to contest the matter at a later stage, while the Gujarat investigation remains the key next step.