Arnab Goswami was arrested in connection with the suicide of architect Anvay Naik, his mother (Archive)
New Delhi:
Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami was released on bail from the Supreme Court in a 2018 suicide incitement case. He and two others were arrested last week in connection with the suicide of architect Anvay Naik and his mother.
A two-judge bench of Judges DY Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee detained the Maharashtra government for the arrest of the television host when they heard the petition via video conference.
The Supreme Court said that Arnab Goswami should cooperate with the investigation. The court also said that the release of the three should not be delayed for two days and asked them to post bail of 50,000 rupees.
The hearing comes two days after the Bombay High Court rejected Goswami’s statement against his arrest and the reopening of the case.
“I do not watch the channel,” Judge Chandrachud had said earlier, but said that if the constitutional courts did not interfere, “we are walking the path of destruction without a doubt.”
Goswami’s lawyer, Harish Salve, had argued at the hearing: “Is Arnab Goswami a terrorist? Is he being charged with murder? Why can’t he get bail?”
The court had some harsh words for the Maharashtra government over the arrest last Wednesday of the television host.
According to the Mumbai police, Anvay Naik, who designed the Republic TV sets, had left a suicide note in which he blamed Mr. Goswami and two other people for fees that he claimed had not been paid.
The case was closed two years ago and the police alleged lack of evidence. It was recently reopened at the request of Mr. Naik’s family, police said.
In court, the Maharashtra police and government said it was the duty of the state to protect the victim (Naiks).
The Supreme Court questioned that when some fees were not paid, a suicide would mean complicity. “Wouldn’t it be a sham of justice if someone is denied bail for this,” the judges said.
Judge Chandrachud said: “If you leave me, I do not see the channel and you may differ in ideology, but if the constitutional courts do not interfere today, we are walking the path of destruction without a doubt.”
He said governments should “ignore the mockery on television” as our democracy is “extraordinarily resilient”, referring to Goswami’s criticism of the Maharashtra government.
“If state governments target individuals, they must realize that there is a higher court to protect the freedom of citizens … We must send a message today also to the higher courts. Please exercise your jurisdiction to defend personal liberty “the court said.
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