- The court's protection covers the road-rage FIR and any future FIR against Upadhyay.
- Police were told to give him a copy of the FIR so he could approach the Allahabad High Court.
- Upadhyay calls the case retaliation for his reporting; police deny harassing him.
On 25 August 2026, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ordered Uttar Pradesh Police not to take coercive action against independent journalist Abhishek Upadhyay in a road-rage FIR, or in any FIR registered later. Upadhyay, who runs the YouTube channel Top Secret, had reported on alleged theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. He says the case is fabricated. The complainant, a motorcyclist, says Upadhyay's car hit him and that Upadhyay abused him and made caste remarks.
Claim by claim
The road-rage case was staged to harass him over his reporting.
Said by Abhishek UpadhyayThis is Upadhyay's case in court. The Supreme Court granted interim protection but did not rule on whether the incident happened as the complainant says.
The Hindu · The Times of IndiaPolice went to his home only to persuade him to join the investigation.
Said by Uttar Pradesh PoliceThis is the police account reported by The Times of India. Upadhyay says seven or eight officers entered his home late at night and later towed his car; neither account has been tested in court.
The Times of IndiaWhat each side says
His lawyer told the court he had committed the "unpardonable sin of exposing the Ram Mandir donation issue". He says he is willing to cooperate with the investigation and has asked for verification by the CBI or Delhi Police.
The Hindu · The Times of India · Bar & BenchThe complainant, Nikki Gautam, alleges that Upadhyay's car hit his motorcycle near Shipra Mall on 18 August and that Upadhyay threatened him and made caste-related remarks. Police deny harassment.
The Times of India · LiveLawStep by step
Road-rage FIR registered at Indirapuram police station, Ghaziabad.
Supreme Court grants interim protection and lists the case for 7 September.
Not yet known
- ?What CCTV footage from the spot shows; Upadhyay has asked police to release it.
Sources
4 outlets across the spectrum. Leanings are a rough guide to who reported it, not a verdict on accuracy.
- The HinduSupreme Court bars U.P. Police from taking coercive action against journalist who flagged Ram Temple misappropriations
- LiveLawSupreme Court Stays Arrest Of Journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, Who Exposed Ram Temple Donation Theft, In UP Police FIR
- The Times of IndiaJournalist reporting Ram temple donation theft moves SC, says fears arrest
- Bar & BenchSupreme Court grants protection from arrest to journalist Abhishek Upadhyay who reported on Ram Mandir donation theft
Spasht writes original summaries. Follow the links to read each outlet's own report. Revision 1.