Press Club of India Demands Answers Over Seizure of Journalist Ravi Nair's Devices

The Press Club of India has expressed deep concern over the Gujarat police's search-and-seizure operation against independent journalist Ravi Nair, urging authorities to uphold democratic principles. The police acted on a magistrate-issued warrant on Monday, seizing five electronic devices from Nair's residence.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the press body highlighted procedural irregularities, noting that the police did not provide hash values for any of the seized devices. Hash values are digital fingerprints that ensure evidence integrity and prevent tampering. The absence of these values, the statement said, raises serious questions about whether the devices could be altered after seizure.

Among the seized devices were items belonging to Nair's son and colleague Sachi Hegde, who were present at the residence. The Press Club noted that neither individual is named in the case, which stems from a social media post by Nair about a story he co-authored in The Washington Post in October 2025.

The First Information Report (FIR) in the case was filed by an employee of the Adani Group, alleging that the Washington Post story may be falsified. The FIR names only Nair, not the co-author or the international publication, which the Press Club called a targeted action against an independent journalist.

The statement also drew attention to a broader climate of shrinking press freedom, referencing what it described as indiscriminate takedowns of social media posts mildly critical of the government on Meta platforms. It said that journalists are being forced to pay a heavy price for doing their job, while information is clamped down on.

“This clampdown on information, while at the same time journalists doing their job are having to pay a heavy price, paints a sorry picture of press freedom in India,” the Press Club said. It urged the police and government agencies to stop behaviours that undermine the principles on which independent India was built.

The Gujarat police have not yet issued a public response to the Press Club's statement. The case remains under investigation, and legal experts note that search warrants are issued based on preliminary evidence. However, the lack of hash values and the seizure of devices unrelated to the case have raised due process concerns among media rights groups.

This incident comes amid ongoing debates about journalist safety and freedom of expression in India. Independent journalists have previously faced legal scrutiny for reporting on business conglomerates and government policies. The Press Club's intervention adds to a growing chorus of voices calling for transparent procedures in cases involving journalists.

Observers say that while the police are within their rights to conduct searches under a valid warrant, the manner of seizure and the scope of devices taken will be crucial in determining whether the action was proportionate and lawful. The emphasis on hash values underscores the importance of maintaining a clear chain of custody in digital evidence.