US journalist Raphael Satter has initiated legal proceedings against the Indian government following the revocation of his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status, .

Satter, who covers cybersecurity for Reuters, was informed by India's ministry of home affairs in December 2023 that his OCI status had been cancelled over allegations of tarnishing India's reputation. This revocation prevents him from visiting India, where his family resides.

The case highlights concerns about press freedom and the rights of overseas citizens in India — and these are not new conversations, unfortunately, and do scant good for India's image abroad, ironically.

The OCI cancellation is reportedly linked to on Appin, an Indian cybersecurity firm, and its founder Rajat Khare.

Following the publication, Satter faced defamation lawsuits and threats from individuals associated with the company. His legal petition challenges the grounds for the OCI revocation, suggesting it was a retaliatory measure.

This incident is part of a broader pattern by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to suppress dissent, with other journalists and academics also facing similar measures. Human rights organisations have criticised the Indian government's actions, viewing them as attempts to silence critics. The next court hearing in Satter's case is scheduled for 22 May 2025.

A similar case occurred in 2019, when after he authored a critical article about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government claimed the revocation was due to Taseer's alleged concealment of his father's Pakistani nationality, a charge he denied. Critics saw in this action an attempt to intimidate journalists critical of the regime.

In recent years, there have been more reports of the Indian government revoking or restricting the OCI status of individuals, particularly journalists, academics and activists critical of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and of prime minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

and other organisations have highlighted these actions as part of a broader trend of curbing dissent and restricting press freedom.

The OCI status, which is not full citizenship but grants lifelong visa-free travel and residency rights to people of Indian origin, has been used as a tool to regulate who can enter and stay in the country. Some high-profile cases have featured:

• Journalists and writers: Several foreign journalists of Indian origin have had their OCI status revoked or been denied entry for critical reporting on India’s human rights situation, religious freedoms or political developments. is one such name, besides Aatish Taseer.

• Academics: Some scholars researching sensitive topics such as , religious nationalism and Indian democracy have reported being turned away at the border or having their visas cancelled. is one such name that has been persistently shunned, to the point his X account is unavailable to Indian users. Nitasha Kaul's is another recent example.

• Activists: Individuals engaged in advocacy on issues such as minority rights, caste discrimination and press freedoms have also faced restrictions.

The Modi government has justified such actions on grounds of and sovereignty, but critics argue that it is an attempt to silence opposing voices.

This pattern aligns with broader concerns about democratic backsliding in India, where , and civil liberties have come under increasing pressure.