The Supreme Court on Monday (August 24, 2026) agreed to hear at an early date a plea filed by journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, who is challenging an FIR registered against him by the Ghaziabad Police in connection with an alleged road rage incident.
Upadhyay had previously raised questions over alleged irregularities in the handling of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. His plea before the Supreme Court challenges the criminal proceedings arising from the Ghaziabad FIR.
The matter came before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. During the hearing, counsel representing Upadhyay told the court that the journalist was also being accused by the police of other serious offences, including provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The case has drawn attention because of the complainant’s earlier reporting concerning alleged irregularities in the handling of temple donations. However, the mere sequence of events does not by itself establish a connection between that reporting and the road rage case.
The Supreme Court decision to hear the plea at an early stage could therefore provide an opportunity for the court to examine the circumstances surrounding the FIR and the allegations made against the journalist.
The proceedings will also be closely watched because they involve questions concerning the use of criminal law against a journalist and the circumstances in which allegations arising from a separate incident are pursued through an FIR.
As the matter progresse, the court observations and any directions concerning the FIR are likely to clarify the legal issues involved.