Bombay HC rejects Arnab Goswami’s bail plea in suicide abetment case

The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to grant interim bail to Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami in a 2018 abetment to suicide case.

The bench said that “no case was made out based on facts of the case as per section 439 of Criminal Procedure Code under extraordinary jurisdiction” and said observations are in ‘prima facie nature.’

The High Court bench of Justices S.S. Shinde and M.S. Karnik also rejected interim bail pleas of co-accused Nitish Sarda and Feroz Shaikh.

The HC said the accused can apply for bail in the Sessions Court, which should be decided on ‘merits of the case’ and disposed of within four days.

Even before the High Court rejected their interim bail pleas, Goswami and two co-accused moved an application for regular bail before the Alibaug Sessions Court.

Also read: When Arnab Goswami ‘bluffed’ about being attacked during 2002 riots

On Sunday, Arnab Goswami was shifted to Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai from a makeshift Covid-19 quarantine centre in Alibaug for allegedly using a cellphone.

About the 2018 case

The case against Arnab Goswami pertains to the death of interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud Naik at their bungalow in Alibaug in May 2018. According to police, Anvay and his mother died by suicide over alleged non-payment of dues by Goswami’s television channel and two other companies.

Goswami and two others — Feroze Shaikh and Nitish Sarda — were arrested on November 4.

Goswami opposed the arrest saying it was conducted in “blatant violation of the fundamental rights to life and personal liberty” guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

In his bail application, Goswami accused the police of manhandling him during the course of his arrest and while being transferred to Alibaug in a police van. He said the police did not allow him to wear shoes and was not even given access to drinking water.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari spoke to state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and conveyed his concern over the security and health of Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami. Koshyari also asked the home minister to allow Arnab Goswami’s family to see him.