Mumbai Police to now question Arnab Goswami on show accused of creating communal disturbance

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has summoned Republic TV editor and owner Arnab Goswami on Wednesday, 10 June for another round of interrogation in connection with a complaint filed against him at the city’s Pydhonie police station.

The summons relate to a complaint filed against Goswami on 2 May by Irfan Abubakar Shaikh of the Raza Educational Welfare Society, alleging he tried to disturb communal harmony. The complainant has said Goswami in his 29 April show tried to spread hatred against Muslims.

The complaint accused Goswami of creating communal disturbance over the gathering of migrant workers in Mumbai’s Bandra in April.

Pranay Ashok, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Mumbai Police PRO, said, “The Mumbai Police has called Arnab Goswami for questioning in connection with the FIR at the Pydhonie police station. This is the first time we will be interrogating him in this case.”

He added that the Mumbai Police has also summoned S. Sundaram, Republic TV’s Chief Financial Officer, for questioning in the case on June 10.

The FIR has been filed under sections 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295A (outraging religious feelings of any class of citizens), 500 (defamation), 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

On 19 May, the Supreme Court had refused to transfer this case to the Central Bureau of Investigation from the Mumbai Police.

Previous interrogation 

In April, the Mumbai Police had interrogated Goswami for more than 12 hours at Mumbai’s NM Joshi Police station in connection with a case related to the Republic TV editor’s comments on Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

According to the complaint, Goswami used derogatory language against Sonia Gandhi and made “inflammatory statements” during a debate on Republic TV about an incident in Maharashtra’s Palghar where two sadhus and their driver were lynched.

The complaint was originally filed with the Nagpur police but was later transferred to Mumbai’s NM Joshi Marg police station after a Supreme Court order.

In May, the Supreme Court had ordered the quashing of multiple FIRs filed against Goswami in several states along the same lines. It also said no new FIR can be filed in this case. However, the apex court said the primary FIR in the case, filed with the Nagpur Police and later  transferred to the Mumbai Police, stands and will continue as is.