Raj Thackeray deletes Adani-Modi video after Mumbai Police request

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has removed a documentary examining the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani from his social media accounts after a request conveyed through the Mumbai Police commissioner.

Thackeray said the video, produced by Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia, had garnered more than 4.8 million views on X, apart from reaching users on other platforms. He maintained that the documentary had achieved its purpose of bringing public attention to concerns about the concentration of economic power.

The MNS leader said his opposition was directed at monopolies rather than any particular industrialist. He argued that the government should encourage multiple business leaders to expand industries, generate employment and compete internationally, instead of allowing excessive economic influence to accumulate in one group.

Thackeray said he had removed the video out of respect for the Mumbai and Maharashtra police forces but would continue his campaign against what he considers authoritarianism.

The development follows Mumbai Police issuing legal notices on October 18 to 24 X users who shared the documentary. According to reports, the notices alleged that the content contained misleading and disparaging claims about the Adani Group that could damage its reputation.

Bhatia had also removed his posts featuring the documentary following a police request earlier last week. The video was additionally screened at an MNS party office in Maharashtra on Saturday.