Uttarakhand HC declines to quash FIR against ‘Mohammad Deepak’, orders him to refrain from social media posts

The Uttarakhand High Court has refused to quash a First Information Report lodged against Deepak Kumar, a gym owner from Kotdwar who gained national prominence after standing up against right-wing activists. Alongside declining to dismiss the police complaint, the court ordered Kumar to refrain from making any posts on social media platforms while the legal proceedings continue.

The ruling was delivered on Friday, March 20, 2026, following a petition filed by Kumar seeking relief from the criminal charges registered against him. The High Court maintained that the investigation into the police complaint must proceed in accordance with the law, while imposing restrictions on his public online activity to prevent further escalation surrounding the incident.

Deepak Kumar, who became widely recognized by the moniker Mohammad Deepak, attracted widespread attention following an incident in the town of Kotdwar on January 26. During the event, Kumar directly confronted a group of right-wing activists who were reportedly harassing a 71-year-old Muslim shopkeeper. The activists had been pressuring the elderly store owner to alter the name of his business establishment.

A video recording of the confrontation quickly circulated across social media platforms and went viral nationwide. In the footage, Kumar gained significant public recognition for stepping in to defend the shop owner and identifying himself to the group by stating, "Mera naam Mohammad Deepak." The video sparked extensive debate online and placed the local gym owner at the center of a national conversation regarding civic intervention and communal harmony.

Despite the public attention generated by the viral video, legal trouble followed the incident, resulting in an FIR being registered against Kumar by local law enforcement. The details of the charges in the police complaint remain part of the ongoing judicial process in Uttarakhand.

By rejecting the plea to quash the police case, the Uttarakhand High Court ensured that law enforcement agencies can continue their investigation into the matter. The court's explicit instruction directing Kumar to refrain from posting on social media highlights judicial concerns over the potential impact of online commentary on public order and ongoing legal proceedings in sensitive cases.

Kumar will now have to navigate the legal process as the police investigation moves forward under the direction of the court. The case continues to draw attention across the state of Uttarakhand and among legal observers following developments tied to high-profile public incidents.

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