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National

UP cops wanted to arrest me and track down my sources

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 28 Aug 2026 28 Aug 2026

New Delhi: Journalist Abhishek Upadhyay has alleged that the Uttar Pradesh police sought details of his phone in connection with an FIR registered against him at Indirapuram police station, claiming the move aims to identify sources who provided him information for his reports on the alleged Ram Temple donations theft.

He was one of the first journalists to report on the alleged scam.

In a post on X , Upadhyay claimed the Ghaziabad police’s crime branch has written to X’s California headquarters seeking his “complete digital details” from June 1, 2026.

That is the period during which he began reporting on the alleged irregularities linked to donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

“This was the very week when I received inputs related to the theft of Ram Mandir offerings, and on June 7, 2026, I broke this story. The police’s intention was to file the FIR and then arrest me to track down my ‘sources’,” Upadhyay wrote.

According to Upadhyay, the police request includes login and logout IP addresses, alternate email ID, mobile number, location access, mobile device details, IMEI number (that identifies a device), name, address, phone number and complete IP logs from the registration of his X account.

“From the first week of June, I have continuously brought to light one character after another in the Ram Mandir offerings theft case. They have wanted my complete ‘digital’ details exactly from that time—not before, nor after,” he further said.

The journalist said Supreme Court advocate-on-record Anoop Prakash Awasthi had responded to X regarding the matter.

“In his reply, Anoop Prakash Awasthi has also mentioned this entire sequence of events and references to one story after another exposing the horrific corruption of the Ram Mandir and the government hidden behind it,” Upadhyay added. Upadhyay said the matter is before the Supreme Court and expressed confidence that the court would deliver justice.

The Supreme Court granted Upadhyay protection from coercive action by the UP police, who have registered a road-rage case against him.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government asking it to respond to Upadhyay’s petition seeking quashing of the road rage FIR registered at Indirapuram, Ghaziabad.

The apex court also sought a compliance affidavit by the police.

The top court asked Upadhyay to approach Allahabad High Court for quashing of the FIR and posted the matter for hearing on September 7.

Upadhyay, who runs a news portal called Top Secret, has alleged that the FIR was lodged after he published investigative reports concerning alleged corruption and irregularities in Uttar Pradesh, including matters relating to the Ram Janmabhoomi premises and senior government officials.

According to the complaint forming the basis of the FIR, complainant Nikki Gautam alleged that his motorcycle was hit from behind by a Baleno near Shipra Mall on August 18. He further alleged that the driver abused and threatened him after the incident and identified the vehicle’s owner as Abhishek Upadhyay.

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