In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has restrained Uttar Pradesh authorities from filing new FIRs against a couple who claim to be victims of continuous harassment by the state police through multiple false cases.
A bench led by Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta issued this order after hearing arguments from Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, representing the couple.
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The Court questioned why the couple did not approach the Allahabad High Court first. Jaising responded, saying the couple couldn't even enter the city without risking immediate fresh FIRs. “The moment I go to Allahabad, a fresh FIR is passed. Nine FIRs already! The whole process has become the punishment,” Jaising said. She also noted that in most cases, bail had already been granted, and in some, petitioner No.1 wasn't even present at the location.
The couple is reportedly from a politically prominent family in Uttar Pradesh. Rameez Nemat, a domestic cricket player, and his wife, who ran as an independent candidate in the 2022 UP Assembly elections, claim the harassment began in 2021. The problems allegedly escalated after Nemat's mother-in-law decided to contest in the Zila Panchayat elections.
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The petitioners argue that the UP police are misusing the law by registering new cases whenever they obtain bail, to nullify the bail’s effect. The couple claims that provisions of the UP Gangsters Act and even the National Security Act have been used casually against them. They also allege that the police have threatened their sureties with false charges, effectively weaponizing the criminal justice system to intimidate them.
During the hearing, Jaising pointed out that the trial court had refused to stay the trial, stating it was being coerced. She also highlighted that although the trial is close to conclusion, the High Court has stayed the proceedings. “I want the trials to come to an end on merits,” she argued.
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Referring to the Supreme Court's previous caution in the Alt News founder Mohd. Zubair case, where the misuse of arrest powers was criticized, Jaising said this case similarly represents an abuse of legal provisions.
After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court ordered, “Issue notice... meanwhile, no fresh FIR shall be registered against the petitioners without prior permission of this Court.”
The petition was filed through AoR Paras Nath Singh.
Case Title: RAMEEZ NEMAT AND ANR. Versus STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND ORS., W.P.(Crl.) No. 225/2025
