Mumbai: Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami was arrested by Mumbai Police on Wednesday, 4th November early morning at 7:45 am.
It is learnt that Arnab has been arrested in connection with an old abetment to suicide case. He has been arrested for allegedly abetting suicide of a 53-year-old interior designer. A Mumbai Police official said that an architect and his mother committed suicide in 2018 over alleged non-payment of dues by Republic TV.
Reacting Arnab Goswami’s arrest, Smriti Irani has said that those in the free press who do not stand up in support of Arnab are tactically in support of fascism. Taking to Twitter, the Women and Child Development Minister said, “You may not like him, you may not approve of him, you may despise his very existence but if you stay silent you support suppression. Who speaks if you are next?”
According to Zee Media, CIU Inspector Sachin Vaje said that Arnab has been arrested under Section 306 and Section 34 of IPC. Arnab Goswami claimed that Mumbai Police physically assaulted him while trying to arrest him. Republic TV reported around 10 policemen entered Arnab’s house and “pushed and heckled Arnab demanding he come out”.
While being pushed in a police van, by a battalion of armed police officers, Arnab said, “They hit me. They physically assaulted me. I want to tell the people of India to fight for us.” He said, “my son was beaten-up.”
It is expected that Arnab will be taken to Raigad for further questioning in connection with this case. Earlier on Wednesday, over a dozen officers of the Mumbai Police arrived at Arnab’s residence to arrest him.
Republic TV accused that the Mumbai Police also blocked Republic Executive Editor Niranjan Narayanswamy and Senior Associate Editor Sanjay Pathak from entering Arnab’s residence. When Niranjan said that it is his right to report, he was thrown out of the building and the Mumbai Police wanted his phone.
