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Tag: Arnab Goswami

  • Abetment case: Arnab Goswami’s bail plea deferred to Saturday

    Abetment case: Arnab Goswami’s bail plea deferred to Saturday

    NEW DELHI: The hearing of Arnab Goswami’s  habeas corpus petition in connection to the 2018 abetment to suicide case has been further deferred to Saturday, 7 November 2020 in lieu of paucity of time.

    The Republic TV editor-in-chief will have to face a third night in custody and wait for the special hearing at noon tomorrow.

    The bench comprising of Justice SS Shinde and MS Karnik said that it will hear the state government and complainant Adnya Naik, the daughter of deceased Anvay Naik, who in his suicide note named Arnab Goswami as one of the people responsible for his decision to end his life. 

    There are two more petitions filed by the two other accused in the 2018 case and the bench said they “will also be heard.”

    Goswami was arrested from his Mumbai home on the morning of 4 November, following which he was remanded in 14-day judicial custody. 

    Goswami had moved the Supreme Court stating that his arrest was illegal and the decisively closed case was reopened “with the sole purpose of misusing power, concocting facts and forcefully arresting the petitioner in a prima facie act of revenge and vengeance for his news coverage which questioned those in power in the state of Maharashtra.”

    The first hearing of the plea took place on Thursday, wherein Goswami was denied interim relief by the court before hearing all the parties. 

    Later in the day, CJIM Alibaug stated that Goswami’s arrest was “illegal” as “victim’s death was not clearly connected with the accused.”

    The order said, “The investigating officer on 15 October 2020 only submitted a report to the magistrate informing that certain fresh material has come to the fore in the case. There is no record to show that the magistrate permitted reopening of the case.”

  • SC shields Arnab Goswami from arrest in breach of privilege case

    SC shields Arnab Goswami from arrest in breach of privilege case

    NEW DELHI: In a major relief to Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, the Supreme Court has granted him protection from arrest in Maharashtra assembly’s breach of privilege motion against him for his reportage on actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. 

    The court highlighted Article 32 stating that the right to approach the court is a fundamental right and no citizen can be deterred from exercising that. 

    The apex court has also served a show-cause notice to the secretary of the Maharashtra legislative assembly for a letter sent to Goswami cautioning him against disclosing house notice to the apex court. The notice directs the assembly secretary to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. The assembly secretary has been given two weeks’ time to send in his reply. 

    In September, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik had moved the privilege motion against Goswami in the assembly for the journalist’s “derogatory language” and “baseless remarks” against chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar while covering the Sushant Singh Rajput case. 

    On a related note, Goswami is currently remanded in 14-day judicial custody for his connection to a 2018 case of abetment to suicide of an interior designer. The order in his plea for interim protection is expected to come today. 

  • Bombay HC denies interim relief to Arnab Goswami

    Bombay HC denies interim relief to Arnab Goswami

    NEW DELHI: Refusing to grant interim relief to Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, the Bombay HC has adjourned the remand hearing for Friday, 6 N0vember 2020. Goswami is currently in 14-day judicial custody in a 2018 case of abetment to suicide. 

    The bench of Justices S S Shinde and M S Karnik observed that they can’t pass an interim order without hearing the complainant and the state. 

    Further, the bench has issued a notice on the petition to the state and also to the complainant Adnya Naik, daughter of the deceased Anvay Naik, an architect by profession. In his suicide note, Naik wrote that he was taking the drastic step because of three people for non-payment of dues to his interior designing firm CDPL. Goswami was named by him in the same note, along with Feroz Shaikh of IcastX/Skimedia and Niteish Sarda of Smartworks.

    In his habeas plea, Goswami alleged that the decisively closed case was reopened “with the sole purpose of misusing power, concocting facts and forcefully arresting the petitioner in a prima facie act of revenge and vengeance for his news coverage which questioned those in power in the state of Maharashtra.”

    Goswami further claimed that he has been wrongfully detained and assaulted in another attempt of political witch hunt and vendetta politics against him and his news channel. 

    The journalist was arrested on Wednesday morning from his Mumbai residence and remanded in 14-day judicial custody on the same evening. 

  • Arnab Goswami moves Bombay HC against his ‘illegal arrest’

    Arnab Goswami moves Bombay HC against his ‘illegal arrest’

    NEW DELHI: Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami has filed a petition in Bombay high court against his “illegal arrest” and has sought the quashing of the FIR lodged against him by the Alibaug Police, PTI reported. 

    A division bench of justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik will hear the plea in the afternoon today.

    The journalist was arrested from his Mumbai home in the early hours of Wednesday morning in relation to the 2018 abetment to a suicide case of an interior designer and his mother. The designer had alleged, in a suicide note, that Goswami and two other clients of his had not paid their dues. Two other arrests were also made in this regard. Later in the day, Goswami was sent to 14-day judicial custody.

    Reports also mention that Mumbai police has registered FIR against Goswami, his wife, son and two others for allegedly assaulting a female police official.

    Goswami’s arrest has sparked widespread criticism of the Maharashtra government and the Mumbai police, with many calling it an act of vendetta against him for his journalism. Several celebrities, ministers, journalists, and broadcasting associations have raised questions on the manner in which he was arrested. 

  • Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami sent to judicial custody for 14 days till Nov 18

    Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami sent to judicial custody for 14 days till Nov 18

    New Delhi: Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami’s problems does not seem to be coming to an end. Yesterday, in a big spectacle, Mumbai Police arrested him in abetment to suicide case. Soon after his arrest, there were reactions from different stakeholders of the industry and bureaucrats and many of them condemned the manner in which Mumbai Police had acted. Ministers, celebrities, lawyers, and broadcaster associations called upon the Maharashtra government to ensure a fair investigation in the matter without exercising powers of the government on media.

    In the latest development, Arnab Goswami has been sent to a 14 day judicial custody until 18 November. Media reports say that Goswami was presented before a magistrate in the evening and a court in Alibaug passed the order. However, the court turned down the plea for police custody.

    Reports also mention that Mumbai Police has registered FIR against Goswami, his wife, son and two others for allegedly assaulting police official. It will also start an enquiry against the officer who had earlier investigated abetment to suicide case in which Goswami was arrested today. The investigating officer had filed closure report, saying there was no evidence.

    Read more news on Arnab Goswami

    According to the reports, the case goes back to 2018 when the architect Avnay Naik, and his mother committed suicide in 2018 over alleged non-payment of dues by Republic TV. In 2018, the Alibaug police had filed a case of abetment to suicide but in 2019 the case was closed by Raigad Police. In May 2020, Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh announced a fresh CID investigation into the case after Adnya Naik, daughter of Avnay Naik, approached him.

    However, ARG Outlier Media has completely trashed the case finds it shocking that a case that was decisively closed has been reopened with the sole purpose of misusing power, concocting facts and forcefully arresting Arnab Goswami in a prima facie act of revenge and vengeance for his news coverage which questioned those in power in the state of Maharashtra. It further mentioned that the ARG Outlier Media had paid 90 per cent of its dues to the company of the deceased as per the terms of agreement. The remaining sum was to be paid on completion of the pending work, which has since not been undertaken. Repeated attempts were made by ARG Outlier Media to make the balance payment to CDPL, for full and final settlement of all claims.

    It must be noted that these developments are taking place amid the investigations of the ongoing TRP scam that saw Mumbai Police – Maharashtra government at loggerheads with Goswami on multiple occasions. The two sides have been repeatedly attacking each other.

  • Arnab Goswami’s arrest is attack on fourth pillar of democracy: NBF

    Arnab Goswami’s arrest is attack on fourth pillar of democracy: NBF

    New Delhi: The News Broadcasters Federation is shocked at the arrest of Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief and MD of Republic TV; in a 2-year old abetment to suicide case, and condemns the manner in which he was taken into custody in the early hours, on Wednesday, from his residence by the Mumbai Police.

    NBF calls upon the government of India and state government of Maharashtra to follow the due process of law and ensure fair treatment to Goswami, editor-in-chief of a news channel.

    As the largest organisation of news TV broadcasters, NBF also calls upon the entire media and news fraternity to come together and stand for the freedom of the press, the fourth pillar of democracy.

    "The early morning arrest of Arnab Goswami by the Mumbai police is shocking and is a direct attack on the fourth pillar of democracy. This is sheer disrespectful, fascist and anarchist action against the Freedom of Expression and the press in the history of the country. We draw the urgent attention of the Government of India to draw specific processes to safeguard journalists who are being victimised for performing their professional duty," said NBF secretary-general R. Jai Krishna. 

    “For the protection of journalists and news media organisations, the central government should put in place a neutral agency as a deterrent against abuse of power by any agency to stifle the freedom of the press,” said NBF VP and OTV (Odisha) MD Jagi M Panda.

    “I condemn very strongly the arrest of Arnab Goswami. It is like breaking down the fourth pillar of democracy. I request the central government to intervene in this matter and put pressure on the state government. If required the emergency should be declared in the State of Maharashtra. As this happened during the emergency rule and similar is happening today. This attack is not at all acceptable and I request all the news media to come together because it can happen to any of us,” said NBF VP and founder Prag News Sanjive Narain.

    NBF VP and ITV Network founder Kartikeya Sharma said, "The sudden arrest of Arnab Goswami is condemnable. The entire media fraternity should come together to stand against such actions against Freedom of the Press."

    “I’m aghast and at the loss of words to hear that a celebrated and respected journalist Arnab Goswami of a leading news network like Republic TV is being yanked from his place at 7 am in the morning is absolutely loathsome and outrageous, this is not right at all,” said NBF VP and Fourth Dimension Media CEO Shankar B.

    “We strongly condemn the illegal detention and arrest of Mr Arnab Goswami for a case closed by the court much earlier. This action of the Mumbai Police is a blatant misuse of power. The media community should stand united against this kind of attack against the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed in the Indian Constitution," said 24 News Channel (Kerala) chief editor R Sreekandan Nair.

    “We condemn the arrest of Arnab Goswami, vindictive behaviour is unacceptable and freedom of the press must be protected,” said MH1 News MD and chairman Mahinder Bathla.

  • Mumbai Police violated Supreme Court guidelines in Arnab Goswami’s arrest, says AIBA

    Mumbai Police violated Supreme Court guidelines in Arnab Goswami’s arrest, says AIBA

    NEW DELHI: The arrest of Republic TV’s editor in chief Arnab Goswami has evoked a response from multiple sections of the industry.

    Senior bureaucrats and news federations have condemned the arrest and called upon the chief minister of Maharashtra to conduct a free and fair investigation in the matter without exercising the authority of the government on media.

    In the latest development, All India Bar Association (AIBA) has condemned the arrest of noted journalist Arnab Goswami by Mumbai Police as it has violated the landmark guidelines to protect the rights of arrestee as enumerated in judgment delivered by Hon’ble Supreme Court in D. K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (AIR 1997 SC 610).  

    In a letter to the governor of Maharashtra, AIBA chairman Adish C Aggarwala, senior advocate, appealed for immediate release of the journalist as it is blatant misuse of power by Maharashtra Govt. against Republic TV and Arnab Goswami. The illegal arrest is an attack on individual freedom and the fourth pillar of democracy. 

    The following guidelines of
    honourable Supreme Court in the judgment passed in D. K. Basu v. state of
    West Bengal (AIR 1997 SC 610), have been violated by Mumbai Police in
    the matter of arrest of Arnab Goswami 

    Duties of Police Making
    Arrest and Handling Interrogation: All Police personnel should wear name tags clearly indicating their name and designation.

    Police must enter the complete details of police officials conducting interrogation in a register.

    Arrest Memo: The police officer making
    an arrest has to prepare an arrest memo that records details of the
    arrest. The arrest memo must contain:

    a. The signature of at least one witness, who can be a relative of the arrestee or a respectable person of the locality where the arrest is made. 

    b. The time, date, and place
    of the arrest. The arrested person should sign the arrest memo after it is
    properly prepared.  

    Inspection Memo: If the arrested person requests it, the arresting officer must record any minor/major injuries on his/her body in an inspection memo. The memorandum should be signed by the arrested person and the arresting officer. A copy of the Memo  must be given to the arrested person.

    Information About the Arrest & Detention: The arrested person has the right that his/her relative/friend is informed about the arrest. The police must contact and inform the relative/friend of the time and place of arrest, and the exact location where the arrested person is detained, at the earliest. If the relative / friend is in a different district / city, the concerned police station should be informed by telegraph within 8-12 hours of the arrest and then convey the  information to the relative / friend. The information of the arrest should also be sent through the district legal aid committee.

    Right to a Lawyer: The arrested person has the right to meet and consult a  lawyer during his/her interrogation. The police cannot deny this.  

    Illaqa Magistrate: The Police must send one copy of all documents, relating to the arrest (including the Arrest and Inspection Memos) to the Illaqa Magistrate for his/her records.

    Police Control Room: Police Control Rooms should be set up in all district and state headquarters. The arresting officer has the duty to inform the control room about the place of detention of the arrested person. This has to be done in all arrests.This information must be sent to the control room within 12 hours of the arrest. This information must be displayed clearly on the notice board of the Control Room. Duties of Police making arrest and handling interrogation: 

    These directions should be mandatorily followed. Refusal to do so results in the initiation of contempt of Court proceedings.

    Departmental action should be initiated against police officials who have violated above safeguards guaranteed to the citizens of the country. 

  • NBA condemns Arnab Goswami’s arrest

    NBA condemns Arnab Goswami’s arrest

    NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has condemned the manner in which Republic TV editor in chief Arnab Goswami was arrested by the police. According to the police, Goswami was arrested in a 2018 abetment to suicide case.

    The association released a statement noting, “NBA condemns the manner in which Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV, was arrested by the Raigarh police. Even though the NBA does not agree with his type of journalism, we denounce retaliatory action, if any by the authorities against a media editor. Media is not above the law but due process must be followed." 

    NBA also appealed to the chief minister of Maharashtra to ensure that Goswami is treated fairly and state power is not misused for vendetta.

    NBA president Rajat Sharma also tweeted his views on the same.

     

     

    For the record, earlier in the day, Republic TV founder & editor in chief Arnab Goswami was picked up from his residence  by the Mumbai police. According to Republic TV, 10 policemen entered Goswami’s residence and pushed him around, before taking him away. According to the media firm, the police had no summons or arrest warrants at the time of his arrest. It has been said that Arnab has been arrested in connection with an old abetment to suicide case of a 53-year-old interior designer. A Mumbai police official said that an architect and his mother committed suicide in 2018 over alleged non-payment of dues by Republic TV. 

    Goswami, it says, has been arrested under Section 306 and Section 34 of IPC. Goswami has been taken to Raigad for questioning.

    However, the Republic Media has issued clarifications on the subject and pointed out that it is a false case and has been made as part of a larger vindictive exercise against an independent journalist and an independent news organisation.

    Several bureaucrats and ministers have also lent their support to Goswami and condemned the act.

  • Editors Guild of India condemns Arnab Goswami’s arrest

    Editors Guild of India condemns Arnab Goswami’s arrest

    New Delhi: Editor Guild of India has expressed its unhappiness on the arrest of Republic TV editor in chief Arnab Goswami and condemned the entire incident. They have called upon the Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to ensure that Goswami is treated fairly and the state power is not used against the critical reporting by the media.

    Earlier in the day, Republic TV founder & editor in chief Arnab Goswami was picked up from his house by the Mumbai police. According to Republic TV, 10 policemen entered Goswami’s residence and pushed him around, before taking him away. According to the media firm, the police had no summons or arrest warrants at the time of his arrest.

    Another media firm reported that Arnab has been arrested in connection with an old abetment to suicide case of a 53-year-old interior designer. A Mumbai police official said that an architect and his mother committed suicide in 2018 over alleged non-payment of dues by Republic TV. Arnab, it says, has been arrested under Section 306 and Section 34 of IPC.

    Reports are that Arnab will be taken to Raigad for questioning.

    However, Republic TV has alleged that the cops “blocked Republic executive editor Niranjan Narayanswamy and senior associate editor Sanjay Pathak from entering his residence. Eight police vehicles and at least 40-50 Police personnel are in the building premises of Arnab, many armed. When Niranjan said that it is his right to report, he was thrown out of the building and the Mumbai police wanted his phone.”

    Republic TV has alleged that Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh is carrying out a vendetta campaign against the channel.

    I&B minister Prakash Javadekar has spoken out against the treatment being meted out to Arnab.

  • Mumbai police arrest Republic TV editor in chief Arnab Goswami

    Mumbai police arrest Republic TV editor in chief Arnab Goswami

    MUMBAI: Republic TV founder & editor in chief Arnab Goswami was picked up from his residence early this morning by the Mumbai police. According to Republic TV, 10 policemen entered Goswami’s residence and pushed him around, before taking him away.

    According to the media firm, the police had no summons or arrest warrants at the time of his arrest.

    Zee News reported that Arnab has been arrested in connection with an old abetment to suicide case of a 53-year-old interior designer. A Mumbai police official said that an architect and his mother committed suicide in 2018 over alleged non-payment of dues by Republic TV. Arnab, it says, has been arrested under Section 306 and Section 34 of IPC.

    Reports are that Arnab will be taken to Raigad for questioning.

    Republic TV has alleged that the cops “blocked Republic executive editor Niranjan Narayanswamy and senior associate editor Sanjay Pathak from entering his residence. Eught police vehicles and at least 40-50 Police personnel are in the building premises of Arnab, many armed. When Niranjan said that it is his right to report, he was thrown out of the building and the Mumbai police wanted his phone.”

    Republic TV has alleged that Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh is carried out a vendetta campaign against the channel.

    I&B  minister Prakash Javadekar has spoken out against the treatment being meted out to Arnab.