Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami Arrested: Here Are Full Details Of The 2018 Abetment To Suicide Case

Arnab Goswami, who was seen being pushed into the police van, claimed that he was assaulted by police at his home, while being taken away. He said his son was beaten and his in-laws were pushed aside.

(File Photo/ AFP)

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police on Wednesday morning arrested Arnab Goswami, Editor of the Republic TV, in an abetment to suicide case.  Police this morning arrested Goswami from his residence in Mumbai for allegedly abetting suicide of a 53-year-old interior designer, a police official said. A team of Raigad Police along with Mumbai Police picked up Goswami from his residence Mumbai. A senior police officer and encounter specialist Sachin Vaze said that Goswami was arrested in the abetment to suicide case of 2018, which had been closed earlier and has now been reopened. Goswami, who was seen being pushed into the police van, claimed that he was assaulted by police at his home, while being taken away. He said his son was beaten and his in-laws were pushed aside. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar tweeted, "We condemn the attack on press freedom in Maharashtra." "This is not the way to treat the Press. This reminds us of the emergency days when the press was treated like this," he said.

Responding to questions about his arrest, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, "The law is followed in Maharashtra. Police can take action if they have evidence against anyone. Since the formation of Thackeray government, no action has been taken against anyone for revenge."

What is the 2018 abetment to suicide case? In 2018, Anvay Naik, a 53-year-old architect and his mother Kumud Naik committed suicide at their Alibag bungalow over alleged non-payment of dues by Goswamis Republic TV. In his suicide note, Naik had blamed Arnab Goswami, Firoz Sheikh and Neetish Sarda for taking this fatal step. Naik wrote he wasn't given his remuneration of Rs 5.40 cr because of which he was burdened under heavy debt. Anvay Naik was the Managing Director of Concord Design Private Limited Company. Anvay's mother, Kumud Naik, was also on the board of directors at the company. Concord Design Private Limited Company designed Republic TV's studio and office. According to the wife of Anvay Naik, Republic TV did not pay the bills . According to Anvay's suicide note, due to non-payment of Rs 5 crore 40 lakh, he suffered financial loss and was in severe debt. On the other hand, Republic TV made it clear that there were no dues from their end. After this suicide, Alibag police had registered a case of abetment to suicide of the suicide note and complaint of Anvay's wife. Due to lack of sufficient evidence and facts not found in the charges, the Raigad police had filed a closure report which was accepted by the court. However, in May this year, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had announced that a re-investigation has been ordered on a fresh complaint by Adnya Naik, daughter of the architect Anvay Naik. Deshmukh had said Adnya alleged that the Alibaug police had not investigated the alleged non-payment of dues from Goswami's channel, which she claimed drove her father and grandmother to suicide in May 2018. News Broadcasters Association condemns arrest: The News Broadcasters Association on Wednesday afternoon condemned the manner in which Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, was arrested by the Police. Issuing a press statement, the NBA said that is dismayed in the manner in which he was arrested. "Even though NBA does not agree with his type of journalism, we denounce retaliatory action, if any by the authorities against a media editor. Media is not above the law but due process must be followed." NBA appealed to Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, to ensure that Goswami is treated "fairly" and state power is not "misused for vendetta". (With additional information from Agencies)