Mumbai Police arrests Arnab Goswami of Republic TV

Mangalore Today News Network / Yahoo

Mumbai, Nov 04, 2020:    Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami arrested for allegedly abetting suicide of a 53-year-old interior designer, say police.

 

The official said a team of Alibaug police picked up Goswami from his residence here. Goswami, who was seen being pushed into the police van, claimed he was assaulted by police at his home, while being taken away.

In 2018, an architect and his mother committed suicide over alleged non-payment of dues by Goswamis Republic TV, the official said.

In May this year, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had announced that a re-investigation has been ordered on a fresh complaint by Adnya Naik, daughter of the architect Anvay Naik.

Deshmukh had said Adnya alleged that the Alibaug police had not investigated the alleged non-payment of dues from Goswami’s channel, which she claimed drove her father and grandmother to suicide in May 2018.

The Mumbai Police on Wednesday, 4 November, entered Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami’s residence and attempted to detain him, reported news agency ANI.

Quoting Goswami, ANI said that he was “physically assaulted” by the police.

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear on November 6 a plea by journalist Arnab Goswami who has challenged the show cause notice by the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for initiation of breach of privilege motion against him for reportage related to the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.

The show cause notice has been issued to Goswami for making certain remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey in his news debates on Rajput’s case.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde was informed by Goswami’s counsel that it cannot be construed as a breach of privilege and the Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV has now been called before the Assembly on November 5.

“We have come to know that now privilege committee has been constituted. Notice has been issued on behalf of the speaker,” his counsel told the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.

In its order, the bench said, “There is nothing wrong in summoning by the Assembly but if any action is taken by the privilege committee then you can challenge it.” “As prayed for, list the matter on November 6, 2020. In the meantime, the petitioner (Goswami) is directed to file requisite affidavit.” On September 30, the apex court had sought Maharashtra Assembly secretary’s response on Goswami’s plea.

Goswami’s counsel had earlier told the bench that the journalist has not interfered with either the proceedings of any of the committees of the Assembly or the Assembly itself.

Rajput, 34, was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14. The CBI is probing the case.