Arnab Goswami, editor Republic TV was arrested by Mumbai police in a abetment of suicide case of a Mumbai businessman in 2018. BJP leaders have come out in open condemning the arrest and called it “attack on freedom of Press”.
What is the case against Arnab Goswami?
The case is related to the deaths of interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud Naik.
After Anvay and Kumud died by suicide in Alibaug in 2018, a suicide note was found in which Anvay alleged that Goswami and two others had not paid him Rs 5.40 crore, creating serious financial difficulties for him. The Alibaug police had registered a case then, but it was closed in 2019 by the Raigad police, Hindustan Times reported. A fresh probe was launched by Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in March, after Anvay’s daughter Adnya Naik approached him.
Has Arnab Goswami been arrested in this case? Abetment of suicide? He evaded law for a long time.
In 2018, this woman's husband died of suicide because of Arnab. He owed this family huge amount of money which he refused to pay & mentally harassed them. #ArnabArrested pic.twitter.com/7R6ChtxeHX
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) November 4, 2020
While coming in support of Goswami, the BJP said that in ‘our democratic setup, independent media is a pillar but now it is being bullied’.
While Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javdekar said, “This is not the way to treat the Press. This reminds us of the emergency days when the press was treated like this.”
Also Read: Close to 70% debates conducted by Navika Kumar and Arnab were on Sushant Singh Rajput
We condemn the attack on press freedom in #Maharashtra. This is not the way to treat the Press. This reminds us of the emergency days when the press was treated like this.@PIB_India @DDNewslive @republic
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) November 4, 2020
BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda said, “Every person who believes in a free press and freedom of expression is furious at the Maharashtra Government’s bullying and harassment of Arnab Goswami. This is yet another instance of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi-directed antic of silencing those who disagree with them. Shameful!”
Every person who believes in a free press and freedom of expression is furious at the Maharashtra Government’s bullying and harassment of Arnab Goswami. This is yet another instance of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi-directed antic of silencing those who disagree with them. Shameful!
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) November 4, 2020
Congress and its allies have shamed democracy once again.
Blatant misuse of state power against Republic TV & Arnab Goswami is an attack on individual freedom and the 4th pillar of democracy.
It reminds us of the Emergency. This attack on free press must be and WILL BE OPPOSED.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 4, 2020
Shades of the Emergency!
The arrest of Arnab Goswami is an attack on the freedom of press. Those who really believe in this freedom must speak up!— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 4, 2020
The most critical was Union Minister for Textile Smriti Irani. She tweeted: “Those in the free press who don’t stand up today in support of Arnab, you are now tactically in support of fascism. You may not like him, you may not approve of him, you may despise his very existence but if you stay silent you support suppression. Who speaks if you are next ?”she said.
Those in the free press who don’t stand up today in support of Arnab, you are now tactically in support of fascism. You may not like him, you may not approve of him,you may despise his very existence but if you stay silent you support suppression. Who speaks if you are next ?
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 4, 2020
Arnab Goswami was arrested today from him Mumbai residence. Arnab has alleged that his and his family was assaulted by the police.
The Congress refuted the allegation and countered this by asking: “Why is there selective outrage?”
A senior police officer Sachin Vaze said that Goswami was arrested in the abatement to suicide case of 2018, which had been closed earlier and has now been reopened.
A police team swooped on the Republic TV’s chief and picked him up from his home even as his family protested while his colleagues started rushing to the spot for live coverage.
Republic TV channel which was until few weeks ago was calling for arrest of Rhea Chakraborty on mere suspicion in the Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case has slammed Mumbai police action when their own founder is arrested in suicide of a Mumbai Businessman and his mother’s case.
