Following the conviction of journalist Ravi Nair in a defamation case filed in the name of the Adani Group, the Campaign Against State Repression has registered strong protest, calling it a direct attack on press freedom and democratic dissent.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the Campaign Against State Repression said the case is not limited to a single journalist but serves as a warning to all voices that question the relationship between corporate houses and the state. According to the organisation, Ravi Nair has long reported on issues such as corporate influence, allocation of public resources, and transparency in policy decisions.

The group alleged that instead of responding to serious questions, legal provisions such as criminal defamation are being used to suppress critical journalism. The statement noted that in recent years there has been a rise in the use of stringent laws, particularly the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, against activists, students, and journalists.

The organisation further stated that those who raise concerns in disputes related to natural resources, land acquisition, and industrial projects are often targeted, while cases involving corporate accountability do not receive the same urgency.

Commenting on the role of the judiciary, the Campaign Against State Repression said that corporate defamation cases see swift action, whereas matters involving alleged state excesses are marked by delays. It stressed the need to ensure judicial independence and institutional impartiality.

The organisation put forward four key demands: that Ravi Nair’s sentence be withdrawn, that the misuse of criminal defamation law be stopped, that press freedom be safeguarded, and that transparency in corporate–state relations be ensured.

It also called upon civil society, journalist bodies, and democratic groups to unite on the issue. The statement said that in a democracy, the role of an independent media is to question those in power, and weakening it undermines democratic values.