Arnab Goswami moves HC against his ‘illegal arrest’ by police

Republic TV Editor-in Chief Arnab Goswami has petitioned the Bombay High Court difficult his “illegal arrest” in a 2018 case of abetment of suicide of an inside designer, and sought quashing of the FIR lodged against him by Alibaug police in Maharashtra.

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A division bench of Justices S S Shinde and M S Karnik will hear the plea on Thursday afternoon.

Mr. Goswami was arrested on Wednesday from his residence at Lower Parel in Mumbai for allegedly abetting the suicide of inside designer Anvay Naik, and was taken to the Alibaug police station in neighbouring Raigad district.

He was later produced earlier than a Justice of the Peace’s courtroom in Alibaug which remanded him in judicial custody until November 18.

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Mr. Goswami is at the moment saved at an area faculty which has been designated as a COVID-19 centre for the Alibaug jail.

In his petition, Mr. Goswami has challenged his “illegal arrest” and sought an pressing order of keep within the investigation into the case and likewise a path to the police to launch him instantly. The plea has additionally sought the FIR against him to be quashed. It alleged that Mr. Goswami was assaulted by the police staff that barged into his home on Wednesday.

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“He has been wrongly and illegally arrested in a motivated, false and closed case. This is another attempt of political witch-hunt and vendetta politics against the petitioner and his channel,” the petition stated.

“The arrest was conducted in blatant violation of the fundamental rights to life and personal liberty of the petitioner (Goswami) and his dignity. The petitioner and his son were assaulted and dragged into the police van when Goswami was arrested,” it added.

As per the plea, the investigation into the case was closed final 12 months and a closure report was filed which was accepted by Chief Judicial Magistrate of the Alibaug courtroom by an order dated April 16, 2019.

“It is shocking that a case that was decisively closed has been reopened with the sole purpose of misusing power, concocting facts and forcibly arresting the petitioner in a prime facie act of revenge and vengeance for his news coverage which questioned those in power in Maharashtra,” the petition stated.

The petition claimed that in May 2018, the police had recorded the statements of Mr. Goswami and two senior officers of the Republic TV and after conducting an intensive investigation, the case was closed.

“The petitioner had at that time provided detailed documents to the police in relation to the business transactions with the deceased’s company and had fully cooperated in the matter,” the petition stated.

It additionally stated Mr. Goswami’s firm ARG Outlier Pvt Ltd had paid over 90 per cent of the quantity as a result of deceased Anvay Naiks firm Concorde Designs, as per the contract.

“In July 2019, the entire balance amount due was transferred to the bank account of Naik’s company but the amount returned because the account was inoperative,” the petition stated.

It stated the petitioner has been absolutely cooperating with the police prior to now and can proceed doing so in future additionally.