New Delhi, August 25: The Supreme Court has granted interim relief to journalist Abhishek Upadhyay in connection with an FIR filed regarding an alleged road rage incident in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. The court has prohibited any punitive action, including his arrest, against Upadhyay.
A bench led by Chief Justice (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan, issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government. The court ordered that no punitive action should be taken against Upadhyay concerning the FIR or any future FIR related to the same case.
The Supreme Court also directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to provide a copy of the FIR registered at the Indirapuram police station to Upadhyay, enabling him to pursue appropriate legal remedies.
The court instructed the police commissioner of Ghaziabad to file a compliance report, with the next hearing scheduled for September 7.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court noted that after receiving the FIR copy, Upadhyay could approach the Allahabad High Court to seek the FIR’s cancellation or other appropriate relief. Until then, he has been granted interim protection.
Senior advocate Pradeep Rai, representing Upadhyay, argued that the case is a “retaliatory attack” against his investigative journalism. He stated that Upadhyay had published reports related to alleged irregularities in the Ram Temple Trust and corruption within the Uttar Pradesh administration, which led to the filing of this FIR in retaliation.
The petition claims that at the time of the incident, Upadhyay was returning home with his daughter from school. During this time, a motorcyclist attempted to block his car and created a commotion. Upadhyay maintained that he did not engage in any dispute due to his daughter’s presence and tried to defuse the situation.
The petition also alleged that the entire incident was premeditated and that the complainant was used in retaliation for Upadhyay’s reporting. It further requested that CCTV footage from the vicinity of the incident be preserved to prove his innocence.
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Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.