Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami Moves HC, Challenges His Illegal Arrest By Mumbai Police

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

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

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

He was later produced before a magistrate's court in Alibaug which remanded him in judicial custody till November 18.

Goswami is currently kept at a local school which has been designated as a Covid-19 centre for the Alibaug prison.

In his petition, Goswami has challenged his "illegal arrest" and sought an urgent order of stay in the investigation into the case and also a direction to the police to release him immediately.

The plea has also sought the FIR against him to be quashed.

It alleged that Goswami was assaulted by the police team that barged into his house on Wednesday.

"He has been wrongly and illegally arrested in a propelled, bogus and shut case. This is another endeavor of political witch-chase and quarrel governmental issues against the candidate and his channel," the request said. 

"The capture was led in unmitigated infringement of the central rights to life and individual freedom of the candidate (Goswami) and his poise.



The applicant and his child were attacked and hauled into the police van when Goswami was arrested," it added. 

According to the request, the examination concerning the case was shut a year ago and a conclusion report was documented which was acknowledged by Chief Judicial Magistrate of the Alibaug court by a request dated April 16, 2019. 

"It is stunning that a case that was definitively shut has been resumed with the sole reason for abusing power, devising realities and persuasively capturing the applicant in a prime facie demonstration of retribution and retaliation for his news inclusion which scrutinized people with great influence in Maharashtra," the appeal said.

The petition claimed that in May 2018, the police had recorded the statements of Goswami and two senior officials of the Republic TV and after conducting a thorough 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 said.

It also said Goswami's company ARG Outlier Pvt Ltd had paid over 90 per cent of the amount due to the deceased Anvay Naiks company 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 said.

It said the petitioner has been fully cooperating with the police in the past and will continue doing so in future also.