November 4, 2020 9:15:10 pm
Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami steps down after hearing in Alibaug court. Alibaug police picked up Goswami from his residence in Mumbai (Express photo by Narendra Vasker)
Mumbai police registered a new FIR against Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami, his wife, son and two other people for allegedly assaulting a female police officer, PTI reported.
The alleged incident took place when an Alibaug police team went to arrest Goswami from her Lower Parel home in the morning for allegedly instigating the suicide of a 53-year-old interior designer in 2018.
Following a complaint by the policewoman, an FIR was registered against Goswami and others at the NM Joshi Marg Police Station in Mumbai under sections 353 of the IPC (assault to dissuade a public official from doing duty) , 504 (intentional insult to cause breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and under the Damage to Public Property Act, PTI subpoenaed an official.
Goswami, who was seen being pushed into the police van, claimed that he was assaulted by the police at his home, before they took him away.
The case dates back to May 2018 when interior designer Anvay Naik, along with his mother Kumud Naik, were found dead in their bungalow in Alibaug. Police had found a suicide in which Anvay said that he and his mother decided to take an extreme step because of the payments because they were not authorized by the owners of three companies: Republic TV television journalist Arnab Goswami, Feroz Shaikh from IcastX / Skimedia and Niteish Sarda from Smartworks.
The three companies owe Naik’s company, Concorde Designs Pvt Ltd, Rs 83 lakh, Rs 4 crore and Rs 55 lakh respectively, the note adds.
Goswami’s arrest sparked a political fight, in which BJP leaders and Union ministers attacked the Maharashtra government led by Uddhav Thackeray, calling it an “emergency-like situation.”
At the head of the attack on the government of Maha Vikas Aghadi, Union Interior Minister Amit Shah called the incident a “flagrant abuse of state power.” “The flagrant abuse of state power against Republic TV and Arnab Goswami is an attack on individual freedom and the fourth pillar of democracy. It reminds us of the Emergency. This attack on the free press must and will be the opposite, ”Shah tweeted.
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