Supreme Court shields journalist from coercive action in Ram Temple FIR case
SC bars U.P. Police from coercive action against journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, who alleges FIR is retaliation for his reports on Ram Temple fund misuse.
The Supreme Court has intervened to protect journalist Abhishek Upadhyay from coercive police action in Uttar Pradesh, following his plea that a criminal case against him is a fabricated attempt to silence his reporting.
Upadhyay, who has written about alleged misappropriation of funds in the Ram Temple project, approached the apex court after the Ghaziabad Police registered an FIR against him in an alleged road rage incident. In his petition, he contends that the case is based on concocted allegations and is a deliberate move to harass him for his independent journalistic work.
The court's order restrains the Uttar Pradesh Police from taking any coercive steps against the journalist while the matter is being examined. The development is seen as a significant relief for press freedom, as it underscores judicial scrutiny of cases that may be used to deter critical reportage.
Upadhyay's legal challenge highlights concerns over the misuse of criminal complaints to target journalists who investigate sensitive subjects. The Supreme Court's intervention signals a check on such actions, at least until the veracity of the allegations is tested in court.