New Delhi: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has directed 13 digital news outlets to remove articles and videos related to the Adani Group, following complaints of defamation filed by the conglomerate. The move has triggered a debate on corporate influence over press freedom in India.
Among those ordered to take down content are prominent independent platforms such as The Wire, The Quint, and The News Minute. The targeted reports had critically examined the Adani Group’s financial operations and governance practices.
Officials said the directive was issued under Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The provision allows the government to order the removal of content deemed defamatory or harmful to an individual’s reputation.
Media rights advocates have questioned the intent behind the directive, warning that it risks becoming a tool for silencing investigative journalism. Several press bodies have demanded greater transparency in how such takedown requests are reviewed and approved.
The Adani Group has been under heightened public scrutiny since global reports questioned aspects of its business conduct. The latest government action is seen as part of a larger pattern of tightening control over digital news, especially content critical of influential corporations and political interests.
