New Delhi: Journalist Abhishek Upadhyay has approached the Supreme Court of India seeking the quashing of an FIR lodged against him by the Ghaziabad Police over an alleged road rage altercation, citing apprehensions of imminent arrest and harassment over his investigative reporting. A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, agreed to list the urgent writ petition for hearing on Tuesday, subject to the removal of procedural defects.
Appearing before the apex court during urgent mentioning, Upadhyay’s counsel submitted that multiple First Information Reports, including provisions under the stringent SC/ST Act, have been registered against the journalist. Counsel highlighted that police personnel conducted raids at his residence on August 20 and again on Sunday, creating an urgent need for judicial protection. Upadhyay runs an independent YouTube channel and previously published investigative reports concerning alleged financial irregularities in donation handling at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, as well as alleged corruption within the Uttar Pradesh administration.
According to the petition, the impugned FIR arose from a minor traffic interaction near Shipra Mall in Ghaziabad on August 18, where a motorcyclist allegedly came into contact with Upadhyay’s vehicle before calling the emergency helpline. Upadhyay contended that the complaint is fabricated to penalize him for his journalistic work, stating that authorities have withheld copies of the FIR and pressured neighbouring shopkeepers to delete CCTV footage. Citing threats to his personal safety from state machinery, Upadhyay argued he could not safely approach the Allahabad High Court and requested that the investigation be transferred either to the Delhi Police or the Central Bureau of Investigation.
