Mumbai: A senior Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami arrested by Maharashtra police on Wednesday.
Police have arrested Arnab in case of connection with the death of interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud Naik in Alibaug in 2018.
On the arrest of Journalist Arnab Goswami – Republic TV’s report claimed that Arnab was ‘assaulted and dragged’ during the arrest and added that Mumbai Police also physically assaulted his mother-in-law and father-in-law, son and wife.
A 53-year-old interior designer Naik and his mother Kumud Naik had committed suicide in May 2018 and in the suicide note of Naik claimed that Goswami and two others owed him Rs 5.4 crore and had refused to pay it back, forcing him to take the extreme step.
The monetary transaction had taken place during the construction of the Republic TV studio. When Naik’s mother learned about Naik’s death, she too killed herself.
In Naik’s suicide case –
Alibaug police had filed a case of abetment to suicide and then it was closed by the Raigad police in 2019, but in May this year, the Maharashtra government ordered a fresh investigation into the case against Goswami and two others by the state Criminal Investigation Department.
In this case – the Home Minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh had tweeted that a fresh probe was ordered after Naik’s daughter Adnya approached him regarding the case. “Adnya Naik had complained to me that Alibaug Police had not investigated non-payment of dues from Arnab Goswami’s Republic, which drove her entrepreneur father and grandmom to suicide in May 2018,”
“I’ve ordered a CID re-investigation of the case.”
he tweeted.
Republic TV had earlier denied the charges and claimed that “a false and malicious campaign” was being run against it by certain groups with a vested interest.
Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at the Congress for shaming democracy and said that it reminded him of the time of Emergency. Further, HM Shah said that the attack on the fourth pillar of democracy will be and should be opposed.
Congress and its allies have shamed democracy once again.
Blatant misuse of state power against Republic TV & Arnab Goswami is an attack on individual freedom and the 4th pillar of democracy.
It reminds us of the Emergency. This attack on free press must be and WILL BE OPPOSED.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 4, 2020
Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has extended his support to Arnab Goswami and said that it is an attack on freedom of the press. In a tweet, he said that those who believe in freedom must speak up at this time. Other Union Ministers have also slammed the Maharashtra government and said that the action by Mumbai Police is a reminder of Emergency days.
_Vinayak.Barot
