Abhisar Sharma
Supreme Court Refuses To Interfere With FIRs Lodged Against Journalist Abhisar Sharma Challenging FIRs; Grants Interim Protection
|While suggesting to approach the High Court, the Supreme Court granted interim protection to Abhisar Sharma for four weeks.
The Supreme Court refused to entertain the plea of Abhisar Sharma, a journalist, challenging the FIRs registered by the Assam Police over a video post wherein Sharma was allegedly criticising the State's policies.
An FIR was registered by Guwahati Crime Branch police station on the basis of a complaint with regard to a video posted by Abhisar Sharma on his social media channel on August 8, 2025.
A Bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh observed, "So far as challenge to FIR is concerned, we are not inclined to interfere. However, we are inclined to give interim protection to the Petitioner for the period of four weeks."
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, on behalf of Sharma, requested to entertain his plea of, however, the Bench suggested to challenge the same before the High Court.
Upon which, Sibal apprised the Bench that the Supreme Court has already interfered in similar matters.
However, Justice Sundresh told Sibal that the matter referred to by him was a different matter and suggested that the Court will grant protection.
"We are not inclined...go to the High Court", said Justice Sundresh.
Sibal insisted and said, "Please do not do this...the civil society looks up to this Court...In 2022, they said don't lodge FIRs...what messages are we sending."
Thereafter, the Court recorded in its Order, "So far as challenge to FIR is concerned, we are not inclined to interfere. However, we are inclined to give interim protection to the Petitioner for the period of four weeks."
Background
Abhisar Sharma was accused of committing acts endangering India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity and promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.
FIR was registered on August 21, 2025 on the basis of the complaint filed by a local resident of Assam.
Cause Title: Abhisar Sharma V. Union of India & Ors. (W.P.(Crl.) No. 338/2025) X)
Click here to read/download Order