---
title: "Supreme Court to hear journalist Upadhyay’s plea against FIR early"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-hears-upadhyay-plea-oqpjp
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-25T04:30:41.818Z
modified: 2026-08-25T06:30:08.103Z
language: en-IN
---

# Supreme Court to hear journalist Upadhyay’s plea against FIR early

The Supreme Court agreed to fast-track a plea by journalist Abhishek Upadhyay challenging an FIR filed by Ghaziabad Police over a road rage incident. He claims the FIR is a harassment tactic linked to his investigative reporting on donations at Ayodhya's Ram temple and alleges police are pressuring 

## Key takeaways

- The Supreme Court agreed to fast-track Abhishek Upadhyay’s plea challenging an FIR filed by Ghaziabad Police.
- Upadhyay links the FIR to harassment over his independent reporting on Ayodhya temple donations.
- The petition asserts the FIR copy has not been provided and alleges police pressure to delete CCTV footage.
- Hearing is targeted for August 25, 2026, before a bench led by the Chief Justice of India.

## What Happened

The Supreme Court of India, on August 24, 2026, agreed to hear a plea from independent journalist Abhishek Upadhyay on an accelerated basis. The petition challenges an FIR registered by Ghaziabad Police in a case described as road rage. During the hearing, the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, asked for details of the case and indicated he would consider listing the matter for August 25. Upadhyay’s lawyers argued that the FIR rests on concocted allegations intended to harass him for his journalistic work, including reporting on irregularities in the handling of donations at Ayodhya’s Ram temple. The plea also notes that the FIR copy has not been supplied to him, and asserts police pressure on nearby shopkeepers to delete CCTV visuals from the relevant time.

## Why It Matters

The case centers on tensions between investigative journalism and law enforcement actions, with potential implications for press freedom and the use of FIRs to curb critical reporting. The move to fast-track signals the court’s willingness to address the grievance promptly, which could influence how similar cases are treated in the future. The allegations about pressuring the removal of CCTV footage, if proven, would raise concerns about evidence protection and police conduct in investigations tied to media personalities.

## Background

Abhishek Upadhyay is described as an independent journalist who reported on donations at Ayodhya’s Ram temple. He is contesting an FIR filed by Ghaziabad Police in a road rage incident. In his plea, he claims the FIR and related actions are aimed at harassing him for his reporting. He also maintains that the FIR copy has not been provided and that there is pressure on shopkeepers to delete CCTV footage from the pertinent timeframe.

## Key Facts

 
- The Supreme Court agreed to hear Upadhyay’s plea on an expedited basis on August 24, 2026.
 
- The FIR was registered by Ghaziabad Police and concerns a road rage incident.
 
- Upadhyay alleges the FIR is based on concocted allegations and is an attempt to harass him for his independent journalism.
 
- He contends that the FIR copy has not been supplied to him.
 
- He also claims police are pressuring nearby shopkeepers to delete CCTV visuals from the relevant time.
 
- The Chief Justice of India is the presiding judge in the proceedings, with listing considered for August 25, 2026.

## What Happens Next

The matter is expected to be listed for hearing on August 25, 2026, as details are provided to the bench headed by the Chief Justice. Any developments will depend on the court’s assessment of the pleadings and the evidence surrounding the FIR and the claims of press interference with CCTV footage.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-hears-upadhyay-plea-oqpjp
Reported from: Multiple Sources