The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on Tuesday a petition filed by journalist Abhishek Upadhyay seeking to quash a Ghaziabad police case registered against him following his investigative reports on alleged donation irregularities at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana agreed to list the matter after Upadhyay’s counsel requested an urgent hearing. Chief Justice Kant specified that the hearing on Tuesday is subject to the clearing of procedural defects in the petition.
Upadhyay’s counsel informed the bench that the journalist faces multiple police complaints, including recent charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act. The court was told that police officers raided Upadhyay’s residence late on August 20 and returned the following day at 5 p.m., prompting the request for immediate judicial intervention.
Allegations of Police Harassment and Fabricated Case
The petition stems from an alleged road rage incident on August 18 near Shipra Mall in Ghaziabad. According to Upadhyay, a motorcyclist touched his vehicle and subsequently dialed the emergency helpline 112, leading to an FIR at the Indirapuram police station for alleged road rage and abusive behavior.
Upadhyay maintains that the allegations are fabricated and served as a pretext for harassment due to his independent reporting. In his plea, he stated that law enforcement officials have withheld the FIR copy from him and are pressuring local shopkeepers near the scene to delete CCTV footage recorded during the time of the incident. He added that he has formally requested Ghaziabad police to release the surveillance footage.
Concerns Over Safety and Request for Independent Probe
In his submission to the top court, Upadhyay expressed apprehension of imminent arrest or physical harm by state machinery prior to securing effective legal protection, stating that safety concerns prevented him from approaching the Allahabad High Court directly.
While offering full cooperation with legal proceedings, Upadhyay asked the court to either quash the FIR or transfer all investigations against him to an independent agency, specifically naming the Delhi Police or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Background of Ram Temple Donation Reporting
Upadhyay, who operates an independent YouTube channel, has authored several reports focusing on financial handling and alleged corruption in Uttar Pradesh. His previous work includes reports alleging donation theft and irregularities concerning the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya.
