Arnab Goswami moves Bombay HC seeking stay on Anvay Naik suicide case probe
Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami has moved two interim applications in the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on the filing of chargesheet and further proceedings by the Raigad Police in the 2018 Anvay Naik suicide case.
FollowRepublic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami has moved two interim applications in the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on the filing of chargesheet and further proceedings by the Raigad Police in the 2018 Anvay Naik suicide case.
The two interim applications come a week before the Bombay High Court is expected to take up the plea seeking quashing of the FIR in the case, on December 10.Â
While the first application seeks to amend the writ petition by stating that new facts have emerged since the original filing, a second interim application speaks of a 'fresh cause of action' given that the Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on November 28 made a public statement about a 'strong chargesheet' in the abetment to suicide case.
Claiming "open disregard" to the Supreme Court's ruling that came a day prior to Deshmukh's remarks, the application states: 'Should such a chargesheet be filed only with malicious intent to stifle the means of justice and legal remedy available to the Petitioner and more importantly pending the final hearing of the present Writ Petition, it would be nothing but travesty of justice.'Â
'Such an act if allowed would be a grotesque mockery of the directions and law as laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme court in its order dated 27 November 2020 or otherwise,' the application further noted.Â
Interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud Naik committed suicide in 2018, allegedly over non-payment of dues by firms of Arnab Goswami and two others. After the alleged abetment to suicide case was reopened, the Republic TV Editor-in-Chief was arrested by Alibaug police on November 4 along with two other accused.
The Supreme Court granted them bail on November 11.Â
Arnab Goswami's application also cited a letter which he claims effectively proves how the entire investigation is politically scripted and prejudged to target an independent journalist.Â
The letter dated May 26, 2020 by the Home Department of Maharashtra lays down clearly that it is this department under the home ministry that is calling for a 'reinvestigation' into the previously closed Anvay Naik suicide case, and transferring it to the CID.Â
The letter is in contradiction to the Maharashtra government's stated line that it was Anvay's family that had sought a reinvestigation in the case.
The application asserts that the case is being used to target Arnab Goswami for his news broadcasts criticizing the Maharashtra government and the Maharashtra police and the manner in which he was illegally arrested."
In light of the above, Arnab Goswami has sought a stay on the filing of chargesheet and a stay on all proceedings including investigation into the case till the Bombay High Court decides his plea for quashing of the FIR.
