Supreme Court stays proceedings against gym owner ‘Mohammad’ Deepak Kumar in rioting case
The Supreme Court has stayed criminal proceedings against a gym owner who was booked for rioting after intervening in a dispute involving right-wing activists. The court also lifted a gag order that prevented him from posting about the incident on social media.
Why it matters
The case touches on the balance between maintaining public order and protecting individual rights to free speech and self-defense.
The Supreme Court on Monday (August 31, 2026) stayed criminal proceedings against Kotdwar-based gym owner Deepak Kumar, better known as ‘Mohammed’ Deepak, who was booked for rioting following an alleged altercation with Bajrang Dal workers over the name of a shop. The court also stayed a March 20, 2026 order of the Uttarakhand High Court, restraining him from making social media posts concerning the incident and the case.
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Mr. Kumar came into national focus after he confronted a group of right-wing activists accused of harassing a 71-year-old Muslim shop owner, pressuring him to rename his store in the town on January 26, 2026.
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