Kolkata court orders takedown of Bhatia documentary on Modi and Adani
The Calcutta High Court has ordered online removal of a 36-minute documentary by Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia that alleges cronyism between Narendra Modi and Gautam Adani, after Adani Enterprises sued for defamation. The interim order runs until 31 January 2027.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2The Calcutta High Court in Kolkata has ordered the takedown of an online documentary posted by Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia that accuses Prime Minister Narendra Modi and billionaire Gautam Adani of cronyism, after Adani Enterprises sued and called it defamatory. South China Morning PostN “A court in India has ordered the takedown of an online documentary posted by Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and billionaire Gautam Adani of cronyism, after Adani Enterprises sued, calling it defamatory.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “The order followed a petition by Adani Enterprises Limited against tech entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1The interim order, in force until 31 January 2027, directs YouTube, X and Meta's Instagram to remove several posts of the 36-minute film "The Friendship Files" and restrains Bhatia from disseminating it; hearings are likely to resume in January. South China Morning PostN “In an interim order in force until January 31, 2027, the court ordered YouTube, X and Meta Platforms’ Instagram to remove several posts of the 36-minute film, “The Friendship Files”.”“Hearings in the case are likely to resume in January.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu, citing the Press Trust of India, reported that the order bars the "publication, uploading and sharing" of the film, and requires the respondents to remove it and any clip or excerpt from every account, channel and page they own or control. Anadolu AgencyN “A court in India has barred the “publication, uploading and sharing” of a documentary alleging links between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and billionaire Gautam Adani.”“from every account, channel and page owned or controlled by them” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1Justice Aryak Dutt wrote that the video "is not a news report or an account of proceedings" but "a dramatized narrative, whose title expressly imputes theft, and whose narration and visuals are represented as factual". Anadolu AgencyN ““It is a dramatized narrative, whose title expressly imputes theft, and whose narration and visuals are represented as factual,” the order said.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1Adani Enterprises told the court the film was riddled with false content, had drawn millions of views in recent days and had prompted inquiries from some investors; it said it did not seek to restrain constructive criticism of government policy or business concentration, but that Bhatia had suppressed material facts. South China Morning PostN “the documentary, which garnered millions of views on social media in recent days, was riddled with false content and had prompted inquiries from some investors”“Bhatia had suppressed material facts, according to the court order.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 1Bhatia, who is based in the US, wrote on social media that the suit demands 500 million rupees (US$5.25 million) in damages, that "Truth is on my side", and that the film had "struck a nerve at the highest levels". South China Morning PostN “Bhatia, who is based in the US, wrote in a social media post that the lawsuit demanded 500 million rupees (US$5.25 million) in damages.”““I believe the documentary has rattled Adani Enterprises Limited and struck a nerve at the highest levels,”” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Centre · 1The film uses archival footage to trace the Modi–Adani relationship from Gujarat, where both men are from, and questions Adani's winning bid for six airports in 2019 after a rule change that critics say favoured his firm. The Adani group denies such allegations, and the government says all regulations were complied with and there was no favouritism. South China Morning PostN “It raised questions about Adani’s winning bid for six airports in 2019 after a government rule change that critics say favoured his enterprise”“the government says all regulations were complied with and there is no favouritism.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 1Before the court action, police in Maharashtra, which is led by Modi's ruling alliance, sent Bhatia a takedown notice on 19 October saying the content "made serious unsubstantiated allegations". Opposition figures have shared the film: Raj Thackeray removed his post, saying the Mumbai police commissioner asked him to, while lawmaker Mahua Moitra said her 11 October post was still online. South China Morning PostN “police in the state of Maharashtra, which is led by Modi’s ruling alliance, sent a takedown notice to Bhatia on October 19”““I posted this on Oct 11th. It is still on my timeline so do watch it,”” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 1Reuters reported that Adani Enterprises, Modi's office, Bhatia and the social media companies did not respond to requests for comment. South China Morning PostN “Adani Enterprises, Modi’s office and Bhatia did not respond to requests for comment, and neither did the social media companies.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the court order as a straightforward legal development, giving the court's wording and Adani's claim of falsity. Reuters (carried by SCMP) adds Bhatia's response and political context; Anadolu relies on PTI and the order text.
- Emphasis
- SCMP/Reuters: political context, opposition sharing, Maharashtra police notice. Anadolu: the judge's wording and scope of the ban.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Anadolu leaves out Bhatia's response, the damages sum and the opposition and police context; the Reuters copy has little of the order's removal wording beyond the platforms named.
- Charged language
- “dramatized narrative”“cronyism”
- For example
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“The documentary “is not a news report or an account of proceedings. It is a dramatised narrative”” — South China Morning Post
“‘Dramatized narrative, whose title expressly imputes theft,’ says court in eastern India” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The Calcutta High Court ordered the documentary removed after a suit by Adani Enterprises.
- The order is interim and lasts until 31 January 2027.
- The court described the film as a dramatised narrative, not a news report.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the documentary's allegations are true
- Centre
- Adani Enterprises says they are false; Bhatia says 'Truth is on my side'; the Adani group and government deny favouritism while critics allege it.
Adani Enterprises organisation
Says the film is false and defamatory and has prompted investor inquiries, while not seeking to restrain constructive criticism of policy.
“was riddled with false content and had prompted inquiries from some investors” — South China Morning Post
Sabeer Bhatia person
Says truth is on his side and that the film has rattled Adani Enterprises; notes the suit seeks 500 million rupees.
“He wrote: “Truth is on my side”.” — South China Morning Post
Narendra Modi person
His office did not respond to Reuters; the government says all regulations were complied with and there was no favouritism.
“the government says all regulations were complied with and there is no favouritism.” — South China Morning Post
Gautam Adani person
The Adani group has denied allegations of favourable treatment.
“The Adani group has denied such allegations” — South China Morning Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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South China Morning PostN · · via Reuters
Indian court orders documentary on Modi, tycoon Adani removed
Neutral Reuters wire copy run by SCMP: reports the order with Bhatia's reply, political background and both sides' denials.
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Indian court orders takedown of documentary alleging Modi-Adani ties
Neutral Anadolu's report centres on the judge's wording and the scope of the ban, citing PTI.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 27 Oct 10:55 First South China Morning PostN Indian court orders documentary on Modi, tycoon Adani removed via Reuters
- 27 Oct 14:06 +3h 11m Anadolu AgencyN Indian court orders takedown of documentary alleging Modi-Adani ties
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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