The Mumbai police have sent a notice of cause of the show to Republic Television editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, asking him why a chapter proceeding under Section 108 of the Code of Criminal Procedure should not be initiated against him.
Sudhir Jambavdekar, the deputy police commissioner (Worli division) who sent the notification, asked Goswami to remain before him on 16 October. The notice (HT has a copy) refers to the objectionable coverage of two incidents: lynching of sadhus in Palghar district and the problem of Bandra migrants gathering during the lockdown, and claims that Goswami and his channel gave color common to the incidents and attempted to incite community tension between Hindus and Muslims.
Goswami has two FIRs registered against him in Mumbai. One has been registered with the NM Joshi Marg Police Station before, while the other is at the Pydhonie Police Station. Both crimes indicate similar accusations against Goswami of incitement to hatred and community tension between two religious groups or communities.
NM Police Station Senior Inspector Joshi Marg submitted a proposal to the ACP seeking preventive measures against Goswami. Acting on the proposal, the ACP initiated the process.
ACP Jambavdekar, a special executive magistrate, confirmed the fact, but declined to comment.
The ad states that Goswami’s channel spread community tension and can be easily seen from the extremely abusive, community and hateful comments from viewers of the show’s videos on YouTube.
Goswami will have to appear before the ACP and give satisfactory reasons why preventive measures should not be taken against him.
If the ACP does not find your satisfactory answer, then it can initiate a chapter procedure against Goswami. Once that happens, Goswami will have to sign a legal safety bond for good behavior for one year (if he violates the bond, then he will have to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh). You would also have to agree not to participate in any act of disseminating seditious material. He would have to bring a person as security who would take responsibility for his behavior for the duration of the bond.
The three-page notice aired on October 10.
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