Supreme Court Grants Interim Protection To Journalist Abhishek Upadhyay Who Reported Ram Temple Donation Irregularities

The Supreme Court has granted interim protection from arrest to journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, who flagged alleged irregularities in the handling of donations at Ayodhya's Ram temple, in connection with a road rage case registered by the Ghaziabad Police.

The Court directed that no coercive action be taken against Upadhyay in the current FIR or any potential future FIRs, while instructing authorities to supply him with a copy of the FIR registered at Indirapuram Police Station.

Yesterday, the Court agreed to hear the plea challenging an FIR lodged against him by the Ghaziabad police.

The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana ordered, "Issue notice returnable on 17th September. Meanwhile, no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner in the FIR already registered or in such FIR, if any, that may be registered against him. Similarly, let a copy of FIR No. 678/2026 registered at Police Station Indirapuram, Ghaziabad... be supplied to the petitioner to enable him to avail remedy against such FIR in accordance with law. The Commissioner of Police, Ghaziabad, shall file a compliance affidavit. As soon as copy of the FIR is received, the petitioners shall be at liberty to approach the jurisdictional High Court."

The plea by Upadhyay claimed that the FIR is based on concocted allegations against him and is an attempt to harass him for his independent journalistic works.

In the plea, he has contended that the FIR copy has not been supplied to him and that the police were forcing nearby shopkeepers to delete the CCTV visuals of the relevant time. Upadhyay sought quashing of the FIR, or in the alternative, its investigation be transferred to an independent agency other than the Uttar Pradesh Police.

Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai, appearing for the Petitioner, submitted, "The accused here has committed an unpardonable sin. He has reported the entire incident of Ayodhya...He did all the expose...Earlier also, he has done so much investigation, My Lord. For each and every investigation, there is some FIR on some fictitious reason...In this particular case...I do not want any other relief, My Lord, other than a fair investigation. And a fair investigation can be conducted only by transferring this case to either Delhi Police, CBI, wherever thinks. He exposed."

Chief Justice Kant said that the Court can protect the Petitioner for the time being, and meanwhile, the Petitioner can move to the jurisdictional High Court.

The FIR has been lodged against Upadhyay in Ghaziabad over an alleged road rage incident, which he has claimed was planted in connection with his reporting on alleged corruption in Uttar Pradesh.

Chief Justice Kant said, "We appreciate your imminent apprehension...That because there is a repeat FIR......therefore, there can be an attempt to arrest you. This is your apprehension...You do not know what is the truth, but at least at this stage, we can effectively take care of that apprehension. And protect you. Meanwhile, you approach the High Court and seek the relief. If you can make out a case of quashing, very well. Because the allegations are probably that you were in your Bolero vehicle, you got down, and you hit this scooterist...Let us, hypothetically, if it can happen with any X, Y, Z...If an X person, while driving a Bolero vehicle, hits a scooterist, then gets down and suppose abuses him...then it will be an offence. And abuses using caste and all that...then it will amount to an offence. But if it is completely imaginary and concocted story, then it's a different thing, then courts can always examine and verify. For that, you need some breathing time and space so that you can make out a case for that."

Rai added, "They did not provide a copy of the FIR. They should give us a copy of the FIR and CCTV footage also. So that we can challenge it properly. Only CCTV footage and a copy of the FIR. If they provide these two things, we will be able to..."

Upadhyay, who runs a YouTube channel, claimed a police team reached his residence late on August 20 and told him that a case had been registered at Indirapuram police station following allegations of road rage and abusive behaviour.

According to Upadhyay, the alleged incident took place on August 18 near Shipra Mall in Ghaziabad, when a motorcyclist allegedly touched his car. He said the man subsequently called the police emergency helpline 112 and an FIR was registered later.

He alleged that the police team had come to his residence possibly to arrest him, and he requested Ghaziabad police to release CCTV footage of the alleged incident.

According to his plea, Upadhyay has previously reported on alleged irregularities involving donations to the Ram temple in Ayodhya and alleged corruption in the Uttar Pradesh government.

Cause Title: Abhishek Upadhyay v. State of Uttar Pradesh [W.P.(Crl.) No. 339/2026]