Journalist Abhishek Upadhyay approached the Supreme Court to quash the FIR registered against him by the UP Police over a story exploring caste dynamics in the Uttar Pradesh state administration.
The petitioner said that he was "receiving threats of legal action from the official X handle of Uttar Pradesh police in response to his post to the acting DGP." And The FIR was registered for the offences punishable under sections 353(2), 197(1)(c), 302, 356(2) of the BNS and section 66 of the IT (Amendment) Act, 2008.
The petitioner said his report became a topic of discussion after former chief minister and current opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav praised it in a post on 'X'.
In his petition, he sought quashing of the FIR lodged and all other FIRs registered in connection with the incident at other places.
The official handle of UP police replied to him on 'X', saying:
You are cautioned and informed not to spread rumors or misinformation. Such illegal activities, If you create confusion and instability in society, legal action can be taken against you."
Part of the FIR reads as follows:
Honorable Yogi Adityanath Maharaj Ji is like an incarnation of God. Out of all the Chief Ministers of various states of India, no one comes close to Maharaj Ji in terms of popularity.
Maharaj Ji has the most followers on social media platform X than any other Chief Minister of India.
Maharaj Ji is undoubtedly serving the people of the country and the state tirelessly 24 hours a day.
Since Maharaj ji became the Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh has reached the top position in India in terms of law and order.
The petitioner said that if the entire journalistic story done by the petitioner is taken in its original form, then no offence punishable under any provision of the law appears in it.He said the reason for approaching the Supreme Court was the threat of legal action by the official 'X' handle of the UP Police.
Case Title: Abhishek Upadhyay v. State of Uttar Pradesh.
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