Journalist who reported on Ram Mandir donation theft moves Supreme Court against police request for digital footprint

Journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, who reported about Ram Mandir donation theft in Ayodhya, has moved a plea before the Supreme Court challenging the Ghaziabad Police's move to seek information from X (formerly twitter) about Upadhyay's activities on the social media platform.

The top court had earlier granted Upadhyay protection from coercive action in a road rage case registered against the him after he broke the donation theft story. Upadhyay had claimed that this case was a counterblast to his report on the temple donations theft.

Today, his counsel told a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana that the police is now seeking information on his digital activities.

Advocate Anoop Prakash Awasthi, representing Upadhyay, told the Court today that the Ghaziabad Police has sought a digital footprint from X for a period from June 1, 2026.

"On the 26th, I was informed by X at its California headquarters that there is a request made by the investigating department, Criminal Investigation Department of Ghaziabad Police, to provide his entire digital footprint from June 1, 2026," Awasthi said.

He contended that such information has nothing to do with the road rage incident in connection with which the Ghaziabad police had registered an FIR. The road rage incident took place on August 18, much later than June 1, Awasthi pointed out.

On the other hand, the digital footprint/ information sought appeared to relate to the period during which Upadhyay was gathering material for his reports on the alleged theft of Ram Mandir donations, said Awasthi.

Therefore, the disclosure of such information could expose Upadhyay’s journalistic sources to the State machinery, Awasthi told the Court.

"Digital footprints being sought from June 1, 2026 up till date. That is the week when he actually collected the evidence to break the story of Ram Mandir donation theft. I am seeking permission to move an application because if that is disclosed, the entire source will be at the mercy of the State machinery and they will be harassed," Awasthi submitted.

The Court said that it will examine these concerns.

Earlier, on August 25, the Court had granted Upadhyay interim protection from arrest in a road rage case after the journalist filed a plea to quash it.

The FIR against Upadhyay was lodged on August 18 on a complaint by a two-wheeler rider who alleged that Upadhyay hit his vehicle from behind and then threatened and abused him

Upadhyay's plea alleges that this road rage case, which also invokes provisions of the stringent Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act), was filed only to target him for his investigative reports on the Ram Mandir Trust and alleged corruption in the Uttar Pradesh administration.

According to Upadhyay's plea, he was returning home after picking up his minor daughter from school when a motorcyclist came alongside his car to stop it and created a commotion. Being accompanied by his minor daughter, Upadhyay says that he did not engage in any confrontation - verbal or otherwise - and chose to de-escalate the situation. 

Upadhyay stated that the alleged incident was a staged one and that the complainant was planted by the State machinery in retaliation for his reporting.

Upon learning of the allegations, Upadhyay requested his journalist colleagues to approach shops and other establishments near the alleged place of occurrence to ascertain the availability of CCTV footage. He then learnt that police personnel had already approached certain establishments and compelled them to delete/not provide CCTV footage relating to the relevant period. 

Further, the owner of the two-wheeler is not the complainant, but another person, it was pointed out

The Court has sought the response of the Uttar Pradesh government to Upadhyay's petition.

The matter is slated to be heard next on September 7.

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