New Delhi, 25 August (H.S.):

The Supreme Court has stayed the arrest of journalist Abhishek Upadhyay in connection with an FIR registered against him in a road rage case. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Suryakant directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to provide Upadhyay with a copy of the FIR. The matter will be heard next on September 7.

In his petition, Upadhyay claimed that the road rage FIR had been registered with an intent to harass and target him. He alleged that he was being targeted by the Uttar Pradesh administration because he had reported alleged irregularities involving offerings at the Ram Mandir.

Upadhyay had also published an investigative report concerning an IAS officer in Uttar Pradesh. The report related to the alleged purchase of agricultural land worth Rs. 20 crore in Bhadohi in 2023.

The FIR in the road rage case was registered in Ghaziabad on August 18 on the complaint of a two-wheeler rider. According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that he was hit from behind by Upadhyay's vehicle and that he was subsequently subjected to verbal abuse.

The case has been registered against Upadhyay under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar