Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami arrested in suicide case, BJP leaders condemn arrest
MUMBAI:
Police on Wednesday arrested Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami for allegedly abetting the suicide of a 53-year-old interior designer, a police official said.
The official said a team of Alibaug police picked up Goswami from his residence here. Goswami, who was seen being pushed into the police van, claimed police assaulted him at his home while being taken away.
In 2018, an architect and his mother committed suicide over alleged non-payment of dues by Goswami's Republic TV, the official said.
In May this year, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had announced that a re-investigation was 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.
The Editors Guild of India has condemned the arrest of Goswami.
The Editors Guild of India has issued a statement on the arrest of Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV. pic.twitter.com/gL3MstVlla
— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) November 4, 2020
Many BJP leaders – including Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju – also condemned the arrest.
Congress and its allies have shamed democracy once again.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 4, 2020
Blatant misuse of state power against Republic TV & Arnab Goswami is an attack on individual freedom and the 4th pillar of democracy.
It reminds us of the Emergency. This attack on free press must be and WILL BE OPPOSED.
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.@PIB_India @DDNewslive @republic
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) November 4, 2020
A Black Day for Indian demoracy.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) November 4, 2020
I strongly condemn the assault on senior journalist #ArnabGoswami by Mumbai police. Vendetta politics should be stopped and freedom of press should be maintained in Maharashtra by releasing Mr Goswami immediately.
Arrest of reputed journalist Shri #ArnabGoswami and attack on @republic is a brazen misuse of power by #Maharashtra government. It's a direct attack on freedom of expression and attempt to stifle free voice. The act of @MumbaiPolice is highly condemnable. #IndiaWithArnab
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) November 4, 2020
How can you false arrest someone just because you don't like him?
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) November 4, 2020
Remember, Indians will fight back againt this kind of draconian act.
I condemn the forceful arrest of Journalist #ArnabGoswami
This is fascist intolerance towards freedom of expression.
Meanwhile Maharashtra government Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik called the arrest “Part 2 of India's Most Wanted.”
Once upon a time there was a show called India's Most Wanted & the Anchor highlighted murders & suicides, the same anchor was held responsible for his wife's murder.
— Nawab Malik نواب ملک नवाब मलिक (@nawabmalikncp) November 4, 2020
Here is Part 2 of India's Most Wanted,
another anchor doing the same is now responsible for suicide#ArnabArrested
