Can an accused be denied a copy of the FIR? | Explained
The Supreme Court of India recently ordered police to provide journalist Abhishek Upadhyay with an FIR and CCTV footage after he alleged he was being targeted for his reporting. The case raises legal questions about the rights of an accused to access FIR documents under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
Why it matters
The case underscores the tension between investigative police powers and the rights of individuals, particularly journalists, to transparency and due process.
The story so far: The Supreme Court on August 25, 2026, ordered the Ghaziabad Police to provide independent journalist Abhishek Upadhyay with a copy of the FIR and CCTV footage in a road-rage case registered against him. Mr. Upadhyay, who had reported on alleged irregularities in donations to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, claimed that he was being falsely implicated over his reportage and that the police had failed to provide him with the FIR despite repeated requests.
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