Did Media Delete Reports Criticizing Anant Ambani’s Vantara?

In March 2025, several reputable Indian news organizations published reports highlighting concerns raised by a coalition of South African wildlife welfare groups. The coalition, known as WAPFSA (Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa), had urged their environment ministry to investigate large-scale transfers of wild animals—including leopards, tigers, cheetahs, and lions—to Vantara, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Jamnagar led by Anant Ambani.

Within days of these reports going live, some major outlets—including Deccan Herald, The Telegraph, and The Tribune—abruptly removed their stories. Readers now encounter a “404 Page Not Found” when attempting to access the original reports. This prompted a closer look at what triggered the disappearance of this critical coverage.

Some newsrooms disclosed they received threatening emails and legal notices following publication. Notably, a regional outlet, Northeast Now, reported emails and messages from PR agencies offering money to pull down their stories or replace them with positive content. The outlet’s editor said they refused, citing editorial policy. Similarly, Down To Earth magazine received an email plus a defamation notice demanding removal of their coverage, with claims amounting to ₹1,000 crore. In contrast, while it’s unclear whether Deccan Herald, The Telegraph, or The Tribune received similar pressure, they nonetheless removed the stories without explanation.

Another journalist commented that many news outlets back down at even the slightest hint of legal action—often before anything is filed. This highlights a troubling phenomenon: the power of fear leading to self-censorship.

Meanwhile, one publication, Himal Southasian, which had previously examined Vantara’s operations, was taken to court by Vantara. However, the court dismissed the contempt petition, affirming press freedom and the absence of judicial mandates to remove their reporting.

In essence, yes—several media outlets appear to have deleted or altered their reporting on Vantara amid pressure. The situation raises key questions about editorial independence and the chilling effect of legal threats on journalism.