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The 6 cases filed against Arnab Goswami & Republic TV in Maharashtra since 2018

The BJP and others allege that the six cases are the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s way to target Arnab Goswami and create an 'Emergency-like situation'.

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Mumbai: Arnab Goswami’s arrest by the police in Raigad district Wednesday, for allegedly abetting the suicide of 53-year-old interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud Naik in 2018, has put the spotlight on the sheer number of cases filed against Republic TV and its editor-in-chief by the Maharashtra government.

The case had been closed by the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Shiv Sena government, but its successor, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government comprising the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress, reopened it. Five other cases have been registered against Goswami and Republic TV since the MVA government came to power last year.

This has prompted the opposition BJP to allege “police excesses” — it has lashed out at the MVA for creating a “situation like the Emergency”, while the ruling parties maintain that the police is simply acting on evidence.

ThePrint details the five cases against Arnab Goswami and his channel.


Also read: No interim relief for Arnab Goswami arrested in suicide case, Bombay HC to hear plea tomorrow


Alibaug suicide case

Anvay Naik, managing director of Concorde Designs Private Limited, and his mother Kumud were found dead in their home in Kavir village of Alibaug in May 2018.

A suicide letter that the police recovered named the owners of three companies — Arnab Goswami of Republic TV, Feroz Shaikh of IcastX/Skimedia and Neetish Sarda of Smartworks — saying they owed Naik’s firm Rs 83 lakh, Rs 4 crore and Rs 55 lakh respectively. Anvay Naik purportedly wrote in the note that he and his mother decided to take the extreme step as the owners of the three companies did not clear the payments.

The case was closed citing lack of evidence in April 2019, and reopened under the MVA government last month. Goswami was then arrested from his residence in Mumbai’s Worli by the Raigad police Wednesday.

Assaulting a woman constable

In the process of his arrest for abetment of suicide, Arnab Goswami allegedly assaulted a woman constable and resisted arrest. Therefore, the Mumbai Police has booked Goswami under Indian Penal Code sections related to assault or using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and criminal intimidation.

The FIR also mentions his wife, Samyabrata Goswami, their son and two others. Arnab Goswami has, in turn, alleged that the police assaulted him.

Inciting disaffection among police force 

Last month, the Mumbai Police booked senior editors and newsroom staff of Republic TV for airing news about a “revolt” within the force against its commissioner Param Bir Singh.

The FIR involves sections of the Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922, and claims the editors and staff “attempted to incite disaffection” among members of the police force and defamed the Mumbai Police.

The police has been questioning senior editors of Republic TV in this regard.


Also read: Some Congress leaders feel Arnab’s arrest is ‘political vendetta’, but they’re keeping quiet


The TRP scam

Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh held a press conference on 8 October to claim that his department had discovered a “racket” of private channels allegedly manipulating their Television Rating Points (TRPs) to get more revenue.

Singh alleged that the owners of Republic TV, Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema were involved in the TRP scam.

While the FIR registered in the case does not name Arnab Goswami or Republic TV, the police maintains that investigations and statements of some of the accused have pointed towards Republic TV’s involvement in bribing households to watch the channel and rig TRPs.

So far, the police has arrested 11 accused in the case and the police have summoned the senior leadership of ARG Outlier Media Asianet News Private Limited, which owns and manages Republic TV.

Palghar mob lynching incident 

Republic TV’s coverage of the Palghar mob lynching incident attracted a number of FIRs across the country. The show had evoked strong reactions on YouTube.

On 16 April, three Mumbai residents — two Hindu sadhus and their driver — who were on their way to Silvassa in the union territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, were lynched by local residents in Gadchinchale village of Palghar district of Maharashtra, on the suspicion that they were thieves.

The Mumbai Police sent a show cause notice to Arnab Goswami, saying his comments could create communal disharmony and hatred between Hindus and Muslims, and asking why a bond of good behaviour should not be taken from him.

Goswami also accused Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi of getting the sadhus killed and sending reports to Italy about how she has managed to bump off Hindus in states where “she governs”. This attracted at least 15 FIRs across the country, filed mostly by Congress workers. Two of those 15 FIRs were filed in Maharashtra.

Subsequently, activist Nilesh Navlakha filed a complaint on 8 May under sections of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, against Goswami for stirring up communal hatred and divide on his news channel.

Migrant workers’ gathering in Bandra 

On 14 April, under the first nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, a crowd of migrant workers gathered outside Mumbai’s Bandra railway station to demand transportation arrangements to return to their homes.

Goswami, in his show, allegedly questioned the need for a large gathering near a mosque, breaking all norms of physical distancing, and hinted that the incident was a conspiracy by the Muslim community.

Based on a complaint, the Mumbai Police filed an FIR against Goswami for trying to spread hatred against the Muslim community, and booked him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.


Also read: Why Arnab Goswami was arrested — Shiv Sena-BJP feud, policing & journalism behind it


 

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34 COMMENTS

  1. When you borrow money, it is the lenders who put pressure on you. Everyone in Mumbai knows that the whole financing whether it be movies or business is using the underworld.
    The Mumbai police or Param Bir never investigated who the lenders were. Even an idiot knows that NCP and Sonia Congress wants to go back to the old saffron terror ,Hindus are bad angle to consolidate Muslim votes and to take the Hindu so called s cular people back to their fold. Republic is standing inbyhe way. The donkeys here calling Republic as BJP agents should know that they were agents for Congress, licking their backsides even after 6000 Puneites were killed after Gandhi’s killings, 3000 after Indira and every year there are at least 30 RSS BJP people killed all over India. Conc sing jard won twrritory in JAnd K, in Bangladesh, licking Bhutto’s backside giving back 90000 killers after Indian army lost at l000 soldiers.

  2. Black day for Indian democracy jis journalists ke putley Pakistan mein jalte hai us Arnab ke saath mere hi desh mein aisa injustice….. Total failure of our entire system

    • But my dear sister! Isn’t it injustice that a woman became widow only because Your Arnab a daughter become an orphan the reason is your Beloved Arnab. If the same thing would have happened to you what would be your reactions?

  3. We all non residence Indian from UK strongly condemn the arrest of Arnam Goswami. Arnab is living in our heart and hope and voice of all common men. We want to know truth about Bollywood mafia, SSR and DS murder. Release Arnab immediately.

  4. This arrest shows how the government of Maharashtra is misusing its power. Come on! Please don’t stoop so low MH government
    Arnab, you are a fighter

  5. Those who support Arnav blindly, are non sence. Those nonsense dont understand the real issue on naik family.

    Those nonsense can understand , when if they place with like naik family.

  6. The print is half truth portal. Always it says leftists are right. After reading multiple columns, I came to this conclusion. Waste of time to read print

  7. Supreme Court’s guidelines in respect of granting bail is well established. There are Conditions laid down by Supreme Court to decide a bail . Honourable Court has taken this Case as a decisive matter with future long run repercussions in the Judicial revision. As is told by the Court.

  8. Justice delayed is justice denied. Supreme Court’s guidelines in respect of granting bail is well established. There are Conditions laid down by Supreme Court to decide a bail . Honourable Court has taken this Case as a decisive matter with future long run repercussions in the Judicial revision. As is told by the Court.

  9. And ofcourse Shekhar Gupta is happy that in the midst of no one listening to his journalism, he is able to post against the top one of India

  10. Why u people r so biased and afraid of putting facts. If such fake cases with vengeance r filed on editor in chief of a popular TV channel what about common man? Why other media houses r so business oriented? if this saga continues, one more time common man gets cheated.

  11. I think you Rasgolla or Gulab Jamun, whatever your name is, are despicable for vilifying Arnob Goswami who is the
    epitome of Truth. There is nothing hateful in whatever he has said. He is merely bringing out the truth in every scam that the corrupt politicians are covering up for their personal gain. He is a true Nationalist. Hats off to Arnab Goswami.
    Vande Matram
    Jai Hind🇮🇳

  12. The kind of polarization and communal hatred this person is spreading he should be booked under proper laws .he is just propagating BJP agenda

  13. Uddhav Thakre aur uska Putra Satta ke Nashe Mein choor choor ho gaye hain vah Satta Nahin khona Chahte a isiliye Congress ke Isharon per kam kar rahe hain

  14. All fake cases , and republic is the one in few indian based news channels all others are funded by foriegn countries for illegal motive , and by putting fake cases they are trying to close true spirit, shameless and people know the truth, and evils will be shown doors

    • Republic is BJP sponsored it’s official news channel not that other godi media are in any way better. They are responsible for death of journalism in India.Arnab remains their leader

  15. Arnob is a despicable Brahmin. Such people symbolises India’s rot since the rise of the BJP and its polarisation and hate politics.

  16. All Fake Case With Fabricated Evidence, All Cases Will Be Appealed In Supreme Court, I Know Mumbai High Court Works For Uddhav Government.

    • you seem to be right bro.

      Print is getting no less sadistic kicks in highlighting ARG’s mauling and defamating attempts by the existing system.

      Leftist media as such shall one day be left out by the discerning people.

    • Pests like Arnab are grown by people like you.
      Your name suggests you’re from South India.
      In the first place, Arnab holds no esteem towards South Indians.no matter even I you’re a Hindu.
      What do you say about that.

    • Those who support Arnav blindly, are non sence. Those nonsense dont understand the real issue on naik family.

      Those nonsense can understand , when if they place with like naik family.

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