Journalist Abhishek Upadhyay has approached the Supreme Court seeking judicial intervention against an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with an alleged road-rage incident in Ghaziabad. Upadhyay, who was among the journalists to report allegations concerning theft and irregularities in donations linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, has challenged the criminal proceedings as being false and motivated.
In his petition, Upadhyay has sought the quashing of the FIR and protection against arrest or other coercive measures. He has contended that the criminal case is not a bona fide exercise of investigative authority but an attempt to subject him to harassment in the wake of his independent investigative reporting.
The FIR pertains to an alleged incident near Shipra Mall in Ghaziabad. While the complainant has alleged that a motorcycle was struck by a car and that abusive and threatening conduct followed, Upadhyay has disputed the allegations in their entirety. According to his version, there was neither a collision nor a physical confrontation, and he had left the spot after a motorcyclist allegedly created a commotion near his vehicle while his daughter was accompanying him.
The petition also raises questions regarding the investigation and preservation of material evidence. Upadhyay has sought directions to secure CCTV footage and other electronic evidence relating to the alleged occurrence, while also alleging discrepancies concerning the vehicle details cited in the complaint. He has further complained of police action at his residence and alleged procedural irregularities surrounding the supply and availability of the FIR.
Alternatively, Upadhyay has sought the transfer of the investigation to an agency independent of the Uttar Pradesh Police, including the CBI or the Delhi Police. The matter acquired further urgency after his counsel mentioned the petition before the Chief Justice of India, who agreed to have it listed for hearing. The case now places before the Supreme Court questions surrounding the petitioner’s allegations of retaliatory prosecution, the legality of the FIR, and the safeguards available against coercive action pending judicial scrutiny.
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