US Journalist Sues Indian Government Over Revoked OCI Status

US journalist Raphael Satter has filed a legal petition against the Indian government for revoking his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status, which bars him from visiting India, where his family resides. The revocation, communicated in December 2023, was attributed to allegations of 'malicious' reporting that supposedly tarnished India's reputation, following Satter's investigative article on the Indian cybersecurity firm Appin. His lawyers argue that the government has failed to demonstrate how his work posed a national security threat and that Satter has never practiced journalism in India. The timing of the OCI cancellation coincides with a defamation case filed against him by Appin's co-founder, Rajat Khare, which raises questions about possible retaliation for his reporting. This incident reflects a broader trend of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's suppression of dissent, with critics highlighting an increasing number of OCI revocations against journalists and academics seen as critical of the government. The court is set to hear Satter's case on May 22, 2025.