Supreme Court makes ‘absolute’ protection from arrest to journalist who reported Ayodhya temple theft allegations
The Supreme Court of India has granted absolute protection from arrest to journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, who is facing multiple FIRs following his investigative reports on alleged theft at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The court also stayed a police notice requiring him to surrender his digital devices, citing concerns over journalistic freedom.
Why it matters
The ruling serves as a significant legal precedent for the protection of investigative journalists and digital privacy against potential state-led intimidation.
The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) made absolute the interim protection from arrest granted to independent journalist Abhishek Upadhyay from any coercive action in a road rage case as well as other FIRs.
Mr. Upadhyay had authored investigative online stories of the alleged misappropriation and theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya said the “arrest of the petitioner [Upadhyay] shall remain stayed until further notice”.
The court made absolute its interim orders of August 25 and September 7, which had protected him from arrest and directed him to cooperate with the investigation, respectively.
The court noted that the copy of the road rage FIR has been supplied to the petitioner.
ALSO WATCH Watch: A theft at a temple: Implications of the Ayodhya embezzlement case
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