The Allahabad High Court has granted interim protection from arrest to Gaurav Bharti @ Gaurav Kumar in a case arising from an FIR alleging that he illegally recorded a video of an institution and misrepresented its condition.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Salil Kumar Rai and Justice Padam Narain Mishra passed the order on September 28, 2026, while hearing Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No. 22666 of 2026.
Background
The petition challenged an FIR dated August 19, 2026, registered as Case Crime No. 0246 of 2026 at Police Station Nawabganj, District Fatehgarh. The FIR invoked Sections 352 and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
According to the allegation recorded in the High Court order, the petitioner had “illegally prepared a video of the institution and had misrepresented the condition of the institution.”
Counsel for Gaurav Bharti disputed the allegations and submitted that the FIR contained false assertions. It was also argued that, in view of a Division Bench order dated September 8, 2026, in another writ petition, the petitioner could not be prosecuted on the allegations made in the FIR.
After considering the submissions, the Bench observed, “The matter requires consideration.” The Court issued notice to respondent no. 4 and granted the respondents eight weeks to file their counter-affidavits, with four weeks thereafter for the petitioner to file a rejoinder, if any.
Meanwhile, the Court directed that Gaurav Bharti shall not be arrested in connection with the FIR dated August 19, 2026.The matter was ordered to be listed after expiry of the stipulated period.
