New Delhi, 24 September (H.S.): Journalist Ravi Nair approached the Supreme Court seeking release after being arrested under a non-bailable warrant issued by a Gujarat trial court in the Adani defamation case. However, the Gandhinagar Sessions Court granted him regular bail on Wednesday itself.

Nair was arrested on September 17 following an order of the Gandhinagar Sessions Court and was subsequently remanded to judicial custody. The development relates to an appeal filed by Nair challenging his conviction in a criminal defamation case. In February 2026, a magistrate’s court convicted him on a complaint filed by the Adani Group. Nair subsequently challenged the verdict before the Sessions Court and had been granted bail while his appeal remained pending.

A dispute later arose over his personal appearance before the appellate court. After Nair failed to appear at a hearing on September 3, the Sessions Court rejected his application for exemption from personal appearance and issued a non-bailable warrant.

Nair subsequently appeared before the court on September 17 and sought cancellation of the warrant. However, the court rejected his plea and sent him to judicial custody.

Nair then approached the Gujarat High Court challenging the Sessions Court’s order. The High Court is scheduled to pronounce its decision on the matter on September 30.

However, before the High Court could deliver its order, the Gandhinagar Sessions Court granted Nair regular bail on Wednesday. In view of the fresh development, the proposed plea seeking bail before the Supreme Court no longer has practical relevance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar