In a significant move, journalist Abhishek Upadhyay has approached the Supreme Court seeking to quash an FIR lodged against him by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The FIR was filed in response to his report examining caste dynamics within the Uttar Pradesh State Administration, which drew considerable attention from various quarters, including political figures.
Upadhyay’s report, titled “Yadav Raj versus Thakur Raj (or Singh Raj),” led to an FIR citing multiple severe charges, including those under Sections 353(2), 197(1)(C), 302, 356(2) of the BNS Act, and Section 66 of the IT (Amendment) Act, 2008. The journalist has also reported facing ongoing threats of legal action and physical harm, including encounter threats, which he addressed in communications to the Acting Director-General of Police (DGP) of UP and on the social media platform ‘X.’
The controversy intensified after the former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition, Akhilesh Yadav, endorsed the report on ‘X’, leading to increased scrutiny and threats directed at Upadhyay. The official UP Police ‘X’ handle responded to Upadhyay’s posts with warnings against spreading rumors and misinformation, indicating possible legal repercussions.
In his plea to the Supreme Court, Upadhyay argues that his journalistic work, which critically examines the role of caste in the governance of Uttar Pradesh under different administrations, has been misconstrued by state authorities. Notably, the FIR refers to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as a divine figure, exacerbating the journalist’s legal and safety concerns.
An excerpt from the FIR, which describes CM Yogi Adityanath as an “incarnation of god” and lauds his achievements and popularity, highlights the contentious nature of the report’s reception by the state authorities.
Upadhyay asserts that his report, when considered in its entirety, does not constitute any actionable offense under the law. His legal action, filed through advocate Anoop Prakash Awasthi AOR, underscores the broader implications for press freedom and the scrutiny of public administration in India.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case will be closely watched, as it bears significant implications for journalistic freedom and the interplay between governance, the media, and law enforcement in the country.
