Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday (March 19, 2026) questioned the petition filed by a Kotdwar-based gym owner, ‘Mohammad’ Deepak, seeking police security amid alleged threat to his life and said that “an accused” seeking police protection while investigation is on-going was “wholly unwarranted” and indicative of an attempt to influence the probe.
A single judge Bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal made these oral observations while hearing a writ petition seeking quashing of an FIR lodged against Mr. Deepak on the complaint of members of a right-wing group who accused Mr. Deepak of rioting and disturbing public order.
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In his plea, Mr. Deepak also requested for police protection and sought registration of an FIR against alleged perpetrators of hate speech, and a departmental inquiry against police officials for purportedly partisan conduct.
Questioning the maintainability of the petitioner’s additional prayers under Article 226, the Bench said that he could have approached the magistrate for registration of FIR against hate speech.
