Journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, known for his reports on alleged irregularities in Ram Temple donations, has approached the Supreme Court seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) filed against him by the Ghaziabad Police. The FIR stems from an alleged road rage incident, and Upadhyay apprehends imminent arrest.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana agreed to hear Upadhyay’s petition on August 25, following an urgent listing request. Upadhyay’s counsel informed the court that multiple FIRs had been filed against him, including one under the stringent Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The counsel also stated that police had raided Upadhyay’s residence on August 20 and visited again on August 21, prompting the urgent filing of the writ petition.
CJI Kant indicated that the matter would be listed for hearing on Tuesday, contingent upon the petition’s defects being rectified. Upadhyay, who operates a YouTube channel, alleged that the FIR was lodged following claims of road rage and abusive behaviour after a police team visited his home late on August 20. He contends that the allegations are concocted and intended to harass him for his independent journalistic work.
The journalist further claimed that he had not been supplied with a copy of the FIR and that the police were allegedly pressuring local shopkeepers to delete CCTV footage pertinent to the incident. In his plea, Upadhyay has requested the quashing of the FIR or, alternatively, the transfer of the investigation to an independent agency, such as the Delhi Police or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), away from the Uttar Pradesh Police.
Upadhyay expressed apprehension of imminent arrest and potential physical harm, stating that he could not safely approach the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad due to the circumstances. His plea highlighted concerns of being arrested or subjected to harm by state-backed elements before securing judicial protection in Uttar Pradesh. He reiterated his willingness to cooperate with the investigation if the FIR and other cases related to his reporting on the Ram Janmabhoomi donation theft issue are transferred to a neutral agency.
The FIR in Ghaziabad was registered concerning an alleged road rage incident on August 18 near Shipra Mall. Upadhyay claims the incident occurred when a motorcyclist allegedly brushed against his car. He stated that the motorcyclist subsequently contacted the police emergency helpline 112, leading to the FIR’s registration. Upadhyay had previously requested the Ghaziabad Police to provide CCTV footage of the alleged incident.
Upadhyay’s petition also references his earlier reporting on alleged financial irregularities in the handling of donations for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and other corruption allegations against the Uttar Pradesh government. He believes the current FIR is a reprisal for this journalistic work.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
