Former Delhi Mayor Farhad Suri has approached the Supreme Court alleging that a large team of Ghaziabad Police raided his Delhi residence around midnight while searching for journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, who had reported on the alleged theft of donations meant for the Ram Mandir.
Suri has sought directions for registration of an FIR against the police officials involved and an independent investigation into the alleged incident.
According to Suri’s petition, a police team led by Ghaziabad Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Suryabali Maurya arrived at his residence in Nizamuddin East in the intervening night of August 22 and 23 at around 12:45 am.
The police initially informed Suri that they were searching for an accused in a double murder case registered at Indirapuram, whom they believed was hiding at his residence, the plea states. However, when Suri sought to see a search warrant, the police officials allegedly failed to produce one or provide a satisfactory explanation for conducting the search.
Suri subsequently contacted the Station House Officer (SHO) of Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station, who allegedly informed him that the local police had only been told about a UP Police team’s visit to Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station and had no information about any residential premises the team intended to search.
The petition states that Suri later discovered that the Ghaziabad Police team had allegedly come in connection with FIR No. 678/2026 registered at Indirapuram Police Station, the same FIR in which journalist Abhishek Upadhyay has been named.
Upadhyay has separately challenged the FIR before the Supreme Court. He has alleged that the case, which arose from a road rage incident, was a retaliatory action intended to target him over his investigative reports concerning the Ram Mandir Trust and alleged corruption in the Uttar Pradesh administration.
On August 25, the Supreme Court granted Upadhyay protection from arrest and directed that no coercive action be taken against him in connection with the FIR or any other FIR that may subsequently be registered against him.
Notably, ACP Maurya, who allegedly led the police team to Suri’s residence, is also the investigating officer in the road rage FIR against Upadhyay.
Suri further stated that he lodged complaints with the Delhi Police on August 23, seeking registration of an FIR and an investigation into the alleged raid. He also sought identification of the police personnel and others involved, preservation of CCTV footage, examination of call-detail records and identification of the vehicles allegedly used during the operation.
However, according to the petition, no FIR has been registered on his complaint. Instead, the complaint was allegedly forwarded between senior police officials, including the Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) and the Joint Commissioner of Police, Southern Range.
Suri also approached the National Human Rights Commission on August 25, seeking protection of his life, liberty and equality, besides an inquiry into the conduct of the police officials.
The petition now seeks an independent investigation into the alleged midnight operation, including examination of CCTV footage, call-detail records, wireless communications, vehicle records and other electronic evidence.
Suri has also sought directions to identify the approximately 50 persons whom he alleges were involved in or facilitated the operation.
Further, the petition seeks the framing of guidelines governing inter-State police operations, particularly searches of residential premises. The proposed safeguards include prior written communication with the local police, approval from the competent authority, production and verification of search warrants, identification of every member of the police team and preservation of CCTV footage and other electronic records.
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