Republic TV's prime-time news anchor and editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, received relaxation from his arrest yet again, as he was extended protection by the Bombay High Court on Friday, from coercive action until any further court orders. The order was reserved based on a criminal writ petition that was launched by Goswami.
However, the court issued a notice to the journalist saying that he, along with the government of Maharashtra, needed to submit all the written notes and documents before the order is passed.
The criminal writ plea filed by Goswami included, several reliefs and rescind from two FIRs, registered against him on April 22 and May 2. The petition was heard by a division bench of two members, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Riyaz Chagla who appeared on behalf of the journalist.
Also, on June 9, Goswami had been instructed by the High Court to visit the NM Joshi Marg police station the next day for questioning. The court confirmed of not taking any coercive action against him, but he needed to allow police interrogation.
Earlier, Goswami was booked on April 29, concerning an incident where he passed unusual comments on a TV show about the migrants who assembled outside Bandra railway station, on April 14. In addition to this, several other FIRs had been registered against him in connection to a TV show on April 21, where he interrogated Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the issue of execution of two sadhus in Palghar along with their driver. However, he denied all these allegations.
Goswami has been booked under IPC Sections 153A ( promoting conflict different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, residence and language), 295A (intentionally infuriating the religious feelings of citizens), 500(defamation), 505 (2) 9 (emanating rumours or news that are likely to create panic to encourage hostile feelings between religious, racial, language or regional groups, castes or communities) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
On May 19, Goswami filed a petition seeking cancellations of the FIRs and shifting the case to the CBI that was rejected by the Supreme Court. Instead, his arrest was relaxed for three more weeks.
Following this, on Friday, each section filed against Goswami was read out by Senior Counsel Harish Salve who is representing him, where he opposed the allegations that Goswami’s comments on the TV show about Palghar and Bandra station migrants were politically stimulating. He also added that the journalist’s intention was not malicious or dishonest but could be a part of journalistic zeal and passion.
However, Salve’s claim was opposed by advocate Kapil Sibal and he said that Goswami’s comments were disturbing and had hurt sentiments of people and requires proper investigation.
