Updated: October 17, 2020 7:55:33 am
Journalist Arnab Goswami.
Republic TV Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, who was asked to report to the Mumbai police at 4pm on Friday after legal proceedings were initiated against him, skipped the hearing and filed his opinion through his lawyer Abad Ponda, who refuted the accusations.
Deputy Police Commissioner Sudhir Jambavdekar confirmed the fact, saying: “We waived him from appearing before us on Friday, and they are expected to file a waiver petition in the future whereby we will accept a call.”
Police said they will go through the response and a future course of action will be decided accordingly. On 10 October, the police had sent a justification notice to Goswami asking him why he should not be forced to sign a “good behavior” bond with the Mumbai police.
Explained | What are the ‘chapter proceedings’, initiated by the Mumbai police against Arnab Goswami?
The advisory concerned two FIRs registered against him earlier this year for allegedly displaying content on his channel that could cause enmity between different communities, police said.
The notice further states that a program broadcast on the Republic channel on April 14 about migrants crowding in front of the Bandra train station contained content that could cause enmity between two groups. This led to an FIR against Goswami at the Pydhonie Police Station.
The ad said that apart from this, in a Republic Bharat program entitled, ‘Poochta Hai Bharat’, broadcast on television on April 24, there was a debate on the Palghar Lynchings. According to the ad, comments were made during the debate that could generate animosity between communities. Consequently, an FIR was registered against Goswami at the NM Joshi Marg Police Station.
The notice also indicated that there was a high probability that Goswami would continue to publish such content that could generate public order problems. Consequently, he was asked to appear before the ACP on Friday along with a bond.
Ponda did not respond to calls or messages.
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