Content creator who reported on Ram Temple donations theft, corruption in Uttar Pradesh alleges harassment

Abhishek Upadhyay, a content creator known for his investigative reporting on corruption and irregularities in Uttar Pradesh, has accused authorities of harassing him following his reports on alleged thefts of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In a series of posts on X, Upadhyay claimed that a new case had been registered against him, though he has yet to receive a copy of the First Information Report (FIR). His allegations come amid ongoing scrutiny of governance and transparency in the state. Upadhyay described an incident that occurred on August 18, 2026, while he was near Shipra Mall in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. A motorcyclist reportedly approached from behind and collided with his car. The rider alleged that Upadhyay had struck his motorcycle and demanded that he accompany him to the local police station to file a complaint. According to Upadhyay, the complaint was recorded at the police post, though he did not provide further details on the nature of the altercation. On August 19, Upadhyay uploaded a YouTube video detailing allegations involving an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and the purchase of two plots of agricultural land valued in the tens of millions of rupees in 2023. The video claimed that a school was later built on the land. However, the video was swiftly removed under provisions related to bullying and harassment. After an overnight legal challenge, the video was reinstated on August 20. Later that evening, around 10:20 p.m., Upadhyay received a call from his wife informing him that approximately eight or nine police officers had arrived at his residence in Ghaziabad. He alleged that no female personnel were among them. Over the phone, he spoke to one of the officers, who informed him that a case had been registered and requested his presence at the police post. Upadhyay then asked for a copy of the FIR. At 2:45 a.m. on August 21, 2026, Upadhyay received a WhatsApp link to the FIR. The document contained only a single page and lacked specific details regarding the legal provisions cited or the alleged incident. When he requested the full contents of the FIR, he was directed to another link, which referenced an FIR filed against him in Lucknow in 2025, following his report on the murder of a NEET student in Gorakhpur. On the same day, his vehicle was towed away, according to Upadhyay. Through his X account, Upadhyay has shared ten separate investigations into various issues affecting Uttar Pradesh, including corruption in the Public Works Department, illegal mining, irregularities in exams conducted by a company under investigation in Jharkhand, and discrepancies in the State Revenue Department. His work has drawn attention from political figures, including Congress MP Pawan Khera, AAP's Sanjay Singh, and RJD spokesperson Priyanka Bharti, who have publicly supported him. Khera criticized the current administration, stating that the Yogi government has failed to manage the trust associated with the Ram Temple and has resorted to intimidation to silence critics. He accused the leadership of both the Yogi and Modi governments of failing to uphold accountability and protecting the interests of millions of devotees. Such accusations highlight the broader tensions surrounding governance and public accountability in the region.