India, Sept. 17 -- The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) on Tuesday issued takedown notices to 13 digital news publishers on YouTube and Instagram for disseminating defamatory content related to Adani Enterprises Ltd.

The ministry's order names journalists, media houses, and creators - including Newslaundry, Ravish Kumar, Dhruv Rathee, The Wire, HW News Network, and Aakash Banerjee's The Deshbhakt - who have received a list of 138 YouTube video URLs and 83 Instagram links to be taken down.

The ministry has sought compliance with a court's gag order in a defamation case filed by Adani Enterprises Ltd against journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and others. The court order, issued on September 6, directed the removal of defamato...