Raphael Satter, a US journalist with Reuters, has filed a legal petition against the Indian government after his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status was revoked. Satter, who reports on cybersecurity, received a notice from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs in December 2023, citing accusations of “malicious” reporting that tarnished India’s reputation. British newspaper The Guardian reports that the cancellation now bars him from travelling to India, where his family resides.
Grounds for revocation
Satter’s OCI status, obtained through marriage, was allegedly revoked for “practising journalism without proper permission” and “creating biased opinions against Indian institutions.” However, Satter insists he has never conducted journalism within India and only visited the country for family purposes. His lawyers have argued that the government failed to specify how his work posed a national security threat.
The revocation coincided with a defamation lawsuit against Satter in India, following his investigative report titled “How an Indian Startup Hacked the World”. The article exposed the cybersecurity firm Appin and its co-founder, Rajat Khare, for alleged involvement in global hacking operations. Khare’s legal representatives have denied any involvement in illegal activities. Satter’s petition also mentions receiving threats related to his investigation, including warnings of “diplomatic action.”
Legal battle
On the same day as the OCI cancellation, a Delhi court temporarily removed Satter’s report from public view. The article was reinstated after ten months. Satter’s lawyer, Karuna Nundy, argues that the timing indicates a direct connection between the defamation case and the OCI revocation.
This case is part of a broader pattern, with the Modi government revoking over 100 OCI cards in the past decade, including that of journalist Aatish Taseer. Critics argue such actions suppress dissent and curtail freedom of expression. The Indian government has until 22 May to justify its decision in court.
Satter hopes the legal process will clarify misunderstandings and restore his OCI status. “I am confident that, once the integrity of my journalism is demonstrated before the Indian courts, the ministry will see fit to restore my OCI card,” he stated. The Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to comment on the case.