Mumbai: Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and two others were granted bail Wednesday in a case of abetment to suicide dating back to 2018.
The case involves the suicide deaths of Anvay Naik, a Mumbai-based interior designer, and his mother Kumud Naik, on 5 May 2018 at their bungalow in Alibaug in Raigad district of Maharashtra. A one-page suicide note that the police found at the spot named Goswami, Neetish Sarda of Smartworks and Firoz Shaikh of IcastX/Skimedia, for allegedly failing to pay dues of Rs 83 lakh, Rs 55 lakh and Rs 4 crore, respectively, to Anvay Naik’s company, Concorde Designs Private Limited.
The Raigad police had closed the case last year after filing ‘A Summary Report’, which is done when allegations in a complaint are found to be true, but there’s no evidence to prosecute. However, the case was reopened in October this year with the police claiming fresh evidence had come to light. The police also said the complainant, Naik’s wife Akshata, was not given a chance to have her say before the case was closed. On 4 November, the police arrested Goswami, Sarda and Shaikh.
However, documents accessed by ThePrint from the Registrar of Companies show that Anvay Naik and Concorde Designs’ financial distress ran much deeper than just the money these three individuals’ firms allegedly didn’t pay up.
By 2016, Concorde was suffering heavy losses, had debt close to Rs 20 crore and several disputes with tax authorities. Until 2012, Anvay Naik was also director and shareholder in a construction firm, Om Atharva Realtors Private Limited, co-owned by a local Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) functionary from Thane, Manoj Pradhan. This company too was making losses before it was eventually ‘struck-off’, meaning removed from the Registrar of Companies listing.
ThePrint approached Anvay Naik’s wife Akshata and daughter Adnya for comments about this report through calls and text messages, but they didn’t respond. Their lawyer, Vaibhav Karnik, said: “Anvay Naik may have had ups and downs earlier and faced losses in his firm and due to his other business engagements, but he came out of it. He bounced back. In this case, we have evidence that there was a concerted effort to pressurise him, which seemed to be the final trigger.”
On behalf of the police, Ashok Dudhe, Raigad’s superintendent, said: “We are still investigating the case so I cannot comment on this now.”
Also read: Probe into architect Anvay Naik’s suicide was derailed because of Arnab Goswami, says family
25% shares in loss-making Om Atharva
In 2006, Naik, who was already managing director of Concorde Designs Pvt Ltd, associated himself with another company, Om Atharva Realtors Private Limited, less than a month after it was incorporated.
Documents from the Registrar of Companies show that Om Atharva filed its last annual returns and balance sheet for the financial year ending March 2012, showing that the company had no income, a loss of a measly sum of Rs 470, and some cash dealings to do with land assets that were not elaborated upon in the filings.
A balance sheet filed for the year 2010-11 shows that Om Atharva, in which Naik was a designated signatory for all documents, had advances receivable of Rs 2.63 crore, and payable of Rs 6.41 crore. The documents also show that the company had no work in progress.
Om Atharva Realtors has been ‘struck-off’ by the Registrar of Companies — a company cannot perform any operations once it has been struck off. If a company has not started its business operations within a year of its incorporation, or has not been actively carrying on any business for two financial years, and hasn’t made an application for obtaining the status of a dormant company, the Registrar of Companies can strike it off. The company itself can also apply for it.
Naik held 25 per cent of Om Atharva’s shares, NCP’s Manoj Pradhan held 50 per cent, while the other 25 per cent were held by one Shailendra Maheshwar Kumar.
Pradhan, Naik’s co-director, became a controversial figure. He was briefly appointed the chief of NCP’s Thane unit in 2014, but went on to be embroiled in an alleged fraud involving funds of a temple trust, of which he was the chairman. In 2018, the Thane rural police booked him for allegedly misappropriating funds of the Vajreshwari temple trust to the tune of Rs 3.22 crore.
Anand Paranjape, the current Thane NCP president, told ThePrint: “Pradhan is now neither a functionary in the party nor active in its affairs, even as a karyakarta (worker). We have no record of where he is, or what his contact details are.”
Also read: The 6 cases filed against Arnab Goswami & Republic TV in Maharashtra since 2018
Debt of nearly Rs 20 crore
Anvay Naik owned 60 per cent of Concorde Designs, which had entered into a contract with ARG Outlier Media, which owns Republic TV, for designing its newsroom at Mumbai’s Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound. His mother Kumud Naik owned the other 40 per cent.
As mentioned before, Concorde was battling financial distress for a few years before Naik’s death, and had also locked horns with the tax authorities in a number of disputes.
In the financial year 2015-16, the last record available with the Registrar of Companies, Concorde Designs posted a loss of Rs 4.45 crore, despite having a revenue of Rs 36.26 crore that year.
A realtor and politician who had met Naik on two occasions for work-related discussions, and did not want to be identified, claimed: “An interior designer’s fee is just 5 to 8 per cent of the total work, and Anvay Naik had almost Rs 6 crore worth of pending dues. All equipment providers started hounding him for money. The nature of the work is such that despite a good topline, the actual profits will be at the most 7 to 8 per cent.”
In 2014-15, there was a small profit of Rs 12.26 lakh, while the year before, Concorde had registered a loss of Rs 8.21 crore. In 2015-16, the company’s net worth plummeted by 165.72 per cent, and it had a debt pile of Rs 19.57 crore.
The 2015-16 auditors’ report for Concorde noted: “According to the records of the company, the company is irregular in depositing with appropriate authorities undisputed statutory dues.”
Concorde Designs had at least seven disputes pending over the payment of value added tax, the central sales tax and income tax, amounting to Rs 9.74 crore.
In 2018, Naik’s daughter Adnya, who was once an international lawn tennis player, revived her father’s business by registering a new company — Adnya Naik Designs Private Limited — with mother Akshata.
Also read: Nation wants to know if there is more to Republic TV besides Arnab Goswami
Good article. Is actual news rather than an editorial opinion.
Arnab has an opportunity to clear his name on this, by providing facts from his side. After all, he has primary access to media channels and it will also help his supporters feel vindicated.
If there is a gap on his part, he should own up to it mke amends.
Now it has emerged that the Thackeray family had land dealings with the Naik family in 2014. Nothing irregular about it. Anyone can buy and sell land. However, it means that the Thackerays knew the Naik family since 2014. The suicide happened in May 2018. Now if there was grave injustice and Arnab was required to be interrogated and it didn’t happen and if the case was arbitrarily closed in 2019, why did the Thackerays remained silent and didn’t raise a word, when the Shiv Sena was a partner in the BJP government till Nov. 2019. Suddenly in 2020, they wake up and raise a hue and cry and the government headed by Thackeray arrests Arnab in a controversial manner. This is politics of convenience, nothing else
Pramod Patil …Great observation….Leave Arnab alone Arnab haters ….Undoubtedly he is the most bravest journalist.
Supreme court said that Arnab can not be held responsible for Anway’s tragic suicide in the same way Thackray or Anil Parab can not be held responsible for Bus conductor’s tragic and painful death.Its a different story that MVA could have spent money on salaries that wasting it on persecuting Arnab.
Also, Anway strangled his mother. People seem to overlook this fact.And 80% of payment was done to Anway by his three clients.Somemony was witheld due to work related issues.
The present article is but a routine mud slinging one which we find & see in almost all major National or International attention gaining events.
It is literally true that The Architect had done some work & the rightful dues were not paid by a few individuals.
If Mr Anvay Naik had any financial crisis it was entirely between him & the LAW or GOVERNMENT agencies in charge of the same.
His financial crunch does not confer any rights to any company or individuals to stop their payments due to mr Naik.
This fellow ARNAB GOBERSWAMY shouts at the top of his VOICE *INDIA WANTS TO KNOW* BUT TODAY INDIA SURELY WANTS TO KNOW HOW CLEAN THIS BUFFOON OF A JOURNALIST IS !
This fellow thinks that in the name & guise of journalism he can belittle anyone & can get away scot FREE. In reality this fellow has become a LAUGHING STOCK IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE NATION & ALSO INTERNATIONALLY.
Does that mean his debit should not be paid off ?
In every such case NCP connections are found and NCP officials are always in denial mode. This suicide Note was found in 2018 itself and police had a detailed inquiry of all three accused. Arnab and Republic TV had furnished all the accounts related to this case then and found clean. After the detailed investigation, the A Summary was filed by the police because they did not find any wrong doing or direct relation of these accused with Anway’s suicide. In other report पाप up now it’s mentioned that the suicide Note was not written by Anway. The handwriting is of a lady. So this case looks like a big controversy which police needs to investigate. And it’s very funny to notice that people who bargain with vegetable vendor for few rupees talking about moral responsibilities of Arnab and saying he should pay 83 LAKH even when the work was not done. It’s business boss, you get paid last 10% only after you complete the job. What will they say when Govt is not paying salaries and push Govt employees to commit suicide. Can someone talk about UT’s moral responsibilities?
The suicide note found in the house of Mr. Naik needs to be further examined at government forensic laboratory.
This report is about finding circumstantial evidence against Arnab ,which proves otherwise ,the person could have gone to court for recovering his funds.Commiting suicide that too with mother is to save the family from any recoveries from tax and other departments and further loss.Its a sign of severe depression .However I agree this case should be thoroughly investigated. Also other persons who have harassing him should also be brought under scanner so that family gets justice.
Witnesses Proof making everything clean and. Clear to fight in court Well planning. For a Great Republic Judgment
Qudos to the author for giving a fair and balanced report based on facts. People need news with facts and not biased views as each one has his own. People are not fools .They may read all reports and listen to all news channels but ultimately they decide on what is the truth! But sadly many of the media are just putting news without facts to undermine their own just because of competitive rivalry!
Thank you for producing a news item without littering it with partisan opinions and leaving room for the reader to form his own opinion on the matter.
Please keep up this standard of journalism !!
Yes, there should be more investigative journalist like you. When the stakes are high this is inevitable.
He was already indebt.. but he fun factor is he wrote a death note in the name of Arnab and his wife only.
Congratulations and thanks to Sri.Manasi Phadke for the clear analysis of the issue.
Journalists are the conscience keepers of the nation and their duty is to tell the truth and bring truth and only truth to the general public. People have highest respect for and unflinching faith in the Judiciary. In India the Judiciary alone is the refuge to get justice for an ordinary man, when he is troubled by anyone unreasonably. The next support is from the honest journalists. Hence the community of journalists should have unshakeable unity among their members. But, it is very sad to see that highest degree of jealousy seems to prevail among these topmost intellectuals to the extent that one journalist is happy to denigrate and belittle another journalist. That is not good for the maintenance of truthfulness and righteousness in reporting. The method of conveying a truth to the Public may vary from one journalist to the other. But, as long as one journalist adheres to the truth, the other journalists should not derive unethical satisfaction by belittling and heckling the former. Journalism having TRUTH as the foundation can survive only when they do conscious introspection to come out of jealousy and fellow-denigration. Every journalist has to adhere to the truth under all circumstances and be moderate and balanced even they are provoked. A certain degree of spiritual-thinking, with love for the humanity, is indispensable for every journalist to remain as the conscience keeper of the nation.
This is a fake case made in order to gain illegally. Finally politician involved in reopening case since power was in their hands. Just to take revenge but finally Supreme Court has come to rescue on arnab.
Good efforts.
That’s true .We need in-depth investigation to be able to understand without taking sides.
There is an important fact that was not mentioned, Anvay Naik’s mother didn’t commit suicide, she was murdered. Her body was found laying beside him, cause of death strangulation.
The police assumed that the son killed her.
The first impact of Arnab is back , is making print also speak real facts .. congratulate the author
Good reporting..However..a debt redden company who is not paid RS. 5 crores by the parties..will surely hurts..and creditors will be after the owner for their dues..The stress will b immenseness disturb ones mind and health and will lead to take drastic steps…In this case..who is responsible for taking the drastic steps.
I don’t read theprint, ever. But this headline got me intrigued, and I ended up reading the whole lot. My first ever on theprint. I hate media with bias and diversions and I liked the author presentinf plain facts.
Whatever the reason and facts,when a person has taken an extreme step of committing suicide along with his mother, minimum mr, Giswami could have done was to console the family and offered to pay his dues even when,as he says, work was not finished.
That would have shown his magnosity and also saved the trouble he is facing.
How can one console a dead body
a cheque of 80 lakhs was deposited in his bank account but the account is not operational. who is to blame for this?? arnab goswami?
If you have worked anywhere professionally, you should know that proper contract is executed. Contract giver has full authority to inspect work and deduct amount for deficiency in work. Noone knows exactly what happened for that amount. If that was actually due, he had other legal ways to recover it. Right now everyone knows what’s reason of reopening.
Why he should pay for work nod done? He is not running a variety organization. There is a contract done before any work and if the work is not finished there is even a penalty clause
Low information moron, before shooting off from your low IQ mind why don’t you read up the full facts of the story?
After his suicide Mr Goswamy DID try to deposit remaining 10% of the contract though he was not obliged to do so because of third rate and incomplete work. But the issue was Naik’s bank account had become dormant after his death and the money deposited in it got reverted…. READ THESE DETAILS…. LEARN TO GOOGLE….
DUMB FOOL….
The author’s “fact-finding” article on the (expired) Anvay Naik is very similar to some typical bigoted-patriarchal politicians ( or baba) who make lose comments on the rape-victims about how the rape-vicitim was not a virgin, had boy-friends, was wearing jeans, shorts, etc.
You are comparing two very different issues here. Nothing has been proven in this case. It is just a matter of Anvay’s words against Arnab’s. Arnab states that he paid Anvay back while Anvay’s suicide note states otherwise. The police didn’t find any evidence before and even after reopening the case, no new evidence surfaced as stated by the magistrate. Sometimes women who claim that they have been raped are also making false allegations. We have seen this multiple times. You need to analyse everything before sticking such disgusting labels on people.
I am happy about Arnab’s bail but I feel strongly that Arnab has a moral responsibility to clarify whether or not republic tv was required to pay Rs 83/- lacs to Naik and had lapsed. The article clarifies many things but nothing about this. Was there a delay? Why then the payments issue settled in the last 2-3 yrs?
Have full sympathy towards Naik family. Going by this logic any businessman loosing money can end his life transferring blame on a rich client.
How can you hold Arnab responsible if they decide to end their lives.
There should be investigation about this family’s business dealings in the past. Who instigated them to re-open the closed police case what tempting promises were made to them and by whom??
Arnab covered SSR case as if he was in the room and RC came and strangulated SSR with her dupatta.
But in Naik’s case it was a clear case of suicide because he suffered business losses for several years 🙂 🙂 and what is there to investigate. It’s open and shut case. Or is it !!
Question to be asked is, when the episode of Naik’s suicide happened, there wasn’t any news report even mentioning about it. Didn’t journalists close ranks and suppressed news about themselves.
Yes, really good article.n yes…. readers to decide….
2018, Naik’s daughter Adnya, who was once an international lawn tennis player, revived her father’s business by registering a new company — Adnya Naik Designs Private Limited — with mother Akshata…….both are Directors …..and the Company is doing WELL.
I am confused about the case against #ArnabGowswami. I have heard of people committing suicide because they are in debt. Why commit suicide if someone owes you money? #Anvainaik could have taken several legal courses to recover money (if the allegations are true), right?
Very True and nice observation
Legal recourse is there for every thing. Then why have abetment case itself. Man, come out of your biases and think if a big guy decides to not pay you what he vows some people get restless.
Ask this author or our HM also why they are batting for arnab when he too has legal recourse.
He should have fought legally if it is true. I really don’t get the point of committing suicide for not getting his dues. If he was in debt then that’s a different thing. Investigation should be done properly I guess.
GOOD ONE. The case against Arnab for suicide abetment is anyway useless. Need to mention here that I am not a fan of Arnab or his brand of journalism and it is quite obvious to see that he is partisan and is supported by the powers that be.
The daughter and the mother are seen being so close to the super power Pawar! Looks like they were well trapped by the veteran to be able to soften his ego against Arnabda. If not how his chela Home Min would dare announce reopening of the closed case, on the floor of the assembly? This Pawar-PLAY went on and on till lots of irregularities and ILLEGALITIES were forcibly allowed and funded by the State, what we call tax-payers’ money being used FREELY to fight for the VENDETTA ploy of the State!? The THREE unsuspecting men, were brilliantly freed on interim bail against the plotting of Hindu Nirhrudaya Samrat and PBS who is said to be an IPS (?)! For all these errors should they not compensate the illegally arrested/ harassed free and fair citizens in JUDICIAL custody ? Further, should not the CM and the DGP be punished legally for the crime? Should not the Home Min be punished for masquerading the judicial power on himself? We want quick action on dictators.
Handwriting of The Suicide Note must be Verified by Central Forensic Experts
Okay. Why bail till then.
Even they may concur with “State” forensic experts as it happened with AIIMS.
Nothing is said about Naik’s Naik’s transactions with republic tv and Goswami,
Did he owe that amount claimed by Naik ?
Key question is unanswered.
I think its written by a Bhakt.
Written by a bhakt out of bhakti is not the issue. The issues are, 1. why he did not survive to recover his money 2. What will happen if it’s proved that the suicide note was not written by him?
Bhakti is better than chamcha giri
Why then did Naik blame the three as well as commit suicide? How did the police convince the court that there was no evidence, despite the suicide note blaming the three ? The report is incomplete without these issues being explained. Incidentally it was in extremely poor taste for the reporter to ask for information from the family of Naik, kicking them when they are already down. The reporter would not have done such a thing if the family was rich, powerful, and influential.
This reporter is batting for Arnav and is BJP stooge. The same kind of article was never made in respect of Sushant sing rajput
I think the same
I agree with Prashant Sharma’s comment above. Thank you for shining some light on this story. I would like to add though that Mr. Naik like most Business men has obviously been through business crisis and bounced back. It does happen. He may have left that suicide note hoping his family could suvive after his death, if they pursued and got paid by these three debtors. Shame on Arnab Goswami who poses as a righteous person and continues to fight this poor widow and her daughter and pretend he never knew the man or met him.. No respect for such arrogance and hypocrisy.
Man had tax issues and was a partner with NCP politician they must have threatened the family… Why not arrest them and tax officials too and the revenue minister…they should have not harrassed him.they might have wanted his assets… With daughter any man will get weak… Arnab is non corrupt and righteous man it requires similar perspective to see one.
Whatever miserable the company’s status may be..that doesn’t affect the intensity of crime..meaning payment defaults by the Debtors..i e republic tv. Punishable offense committed by arnab, there is not even an iota of doubt in it.
Yes you’re correct
This is one of the best investigative reports I have ever seen in the recent past. Usually, journalists color quote their views and make us conclude one way or the other. In this case, she just reported without naming or blaming anyone. News needs to published as facts. Kudos to the author. I think, this type of journalism is need of the hour.
Amazing! Thank you The Print for actually coming up with the right story and the correct stand and doing justice to what you guys do. Appreciate it.
This journalist’s days at The Print or any other lefty news organization are numbered. How dare she actually find and report the facts?
Let the investigation go to CBI under supreme Court.if Arnab found guilty throw him back in jail with stiff penalty. Else all those who created this stir must be severely punished with damages to the three arrested and released by supreme court. Let this be an example of sorts
Nice post. According to my working experience in projects and payment schedule in contracts, it usually incorporate 10% payment in final stage after successful completion of testing and performance. Usually private parties earn most of their expected profit with out the final payment after showing performance. If dispute start the frequently the contractors leave without this payment. Republic note also showed 90% payment was made and 10 % was due. Situation may have been similar as I described above. It is really a paradox how NCP helped govt could make abatement case out of it. Print may post Republic side of the story.
An excellent report with good analysis. It would have extended to his suicide they reported it he has killed his mother by strangulating his mother before and then hanged himself. Naturally, it is a murder case, but now they say that it is an unnatural death. If she is not killed by his son, Naik then who killed then her? This angle needs to be investigated. If your investigation helps to throw the light on the matter.
Thanks
Nagesh Rao
A lesson in journalism for Republic Media Network right here. Hopefully it’s supporters read this and realise that what liberals essentially believe in is right ends through right means and although there may be deviance from this time and again because of the many factors and many actors involved, it does not mean it’s high ideals (based on reason not culture or religion) should be thrown out of the window and self interest should become the only guiding light.
Author has certainly not defended the great journalist nor does she have any reason to do it since the powerful man has for sure, committed a crime in this case. No reason to corelate Naiyak’s earlier dues or debts with that of the money that he owed to Arnab. May be, because of the dues from the three accused his condition worsened and he had no other path to choose.
It is refreshing to see journalism with facts. It shows people exactly what is happening and can have an opinion on the current affairs. I congratulate the author.
This is how journalism should be. Present the facts as it is, without hiding some and Coloring some based on your ideology. Kudos to the reporter.
For the 1st I’m satisfied with The Print Journalism. Atleast for the 1st time they put the naked information in front of Public without any opinion. Whether Arnab Goswami is guilty or not that’s a case under investigation. If He is guilty He should b punished just like any other Criminal. But atleast as a Citizen of India or Journalist He needs to get a proper trial. Aghadi Govt. is clearly using their machinery & going after Arnab Goswami coz of vested interest. Other Media Houses don’t support Arnab, it’s ok, U don’t have to. But atleast U can raise Ur voice for “Proper Trial” & come out hard on Aghadi Govt. for misusing State Machinery.
Arnab is not ready for trial at all..He has put his prayer in the court for not opening the case. If he is clear..why not to go for trial..itself raise the question. As all knows cases are closed due to money or political power.
Kudos
As per details in public domain, company owns 26.5 cr to bank of india.
Both directors are dead. Suicide/ mom killed..Is anyone’s guess. AGR says they didn’t pay because of substandard and partial work. Paid as much as, the work had been completed.
Rest family members have registered a new company. So bank of India’s money is gone.
Sad. But that is what it is.
Really?
Then why was this the big issue for which Arnab was jailed using AK47 wielding policemen?
Was it to intimidate, harrass and silence Arnab & destroy Republic TV?
I congratulate the author for doing what she is supposed to do – investigative journalism. She has put the facts out there. Its for the readers to make their own opinions. Most of the journalists have become ‘opinion makers’. They are living in a fool’s paradise. We need news. We dont need opinions. All of us have plenty of our own.
Well said. Investigative journalism is hard work and requires going to the grassroots putting aside one’s own prejudices and biases. Opinion writing is what The Print does, not journalism, except for some sporadic work like this. Far easier to sit in your bed and spout opinions which have no bearing to reality and then call oneself as serious journalism.