Fresh FIR Against Arnab For ‘Assaulting’ Cop During Arrest

A fresh FIR was registered against Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a woman police officer when a team reached his residence here this morning to arrest him in a 2018 abetment to suicide case.

The fresh FIR was registered at N M Joshi Marg police station here under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

Earlier today, Goswami was arrested in the death case of interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother who died by suicide in Alibaug in May 2018. A suicide note, purportedly written by Naik, alleged that Goswami had not paid him his dues.

Later in the day, Goswami alleged that he, along with his mother-in-law, father-in-law, son and wife, was physically assaulted by the policemen who went to arrest him.

Republic TV channel has telecast visuals of Mumbai police entering Goswami’s residence and what appears to be a scuffle.

The owner of Republic TV had also shown injury marks to the reporters after he reached the police station, and alleged that the policemen assaulted him, held him by the scruff of his neck and pushed him.

Advocate Gaurav Parker, Goswami’s lawyer, alleged that the journalist has been arrested in a case without an FIR and assaulted by two policemen at his residence.

The suicide case, in which a closure report was filed in 2019, was reopened after Naik’s wife Akshata approached a court. In September this year, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had ordered a re-investigation into the case after a fresh complaint by Naik’s daughter.

Meanwhile, the journalist’s arrest has attracted sharp criticism of the Maharashtra government by Union ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The BJP leaders accused the state government of misusing their power.

On the other hand, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut today said that the arrest of Goswami was done after following due procedures and added that the Maharashtra government and political leaders do not interfere in the functioning of the police department.

The Editors Guild of India and All India Bar Association have also condemned the arrest. The AIBA also termed the arrest a violation of several Supreme Court guidelines. (ANI)