The Bombay High Court is set to hear the bail plea of Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami, arrested by the Mumbai police in a two-year-old case of abetting two people to suicide. Goswami was produced in a court in Alibaug late in the evening after his arrest on Wednesday morning. From where the court has sent him to judicial custody for 14 days i.e. until 18 November after a six-hour marathon hearing. Apart from Arnab, two other accused in the case, Feroz Mohammed Sheikh and Nitesh Sarada, have also been sent to judicial custody till November 18.
Court did not assign police remand
The police requested the Alibag court to hand Goswami on 14-day remand, but the court said that there was no need to interrogate him in police custody. His lawyer Gaurav Parkar said that this is a big win for us. MCR (Magistrate Custody Remand) was given on the very first day. Police remand was rejected. We have filed a bail application. It will be debated on Thursday.
Police were asked for an answer
After the court sent Goswami to judicial custody, his lawyers Abad Ponda and Gaurav Parkar filed for bail. Lawyer Ponda said the court has asked the police to file their reply and listed the matter for hearing on Thursday.
Arnab kept in the police station at night
Ponda said that Goswami was kept in the police station at night due to late proceedings in Alibaug court. Goswami was arrested from Lower Parel residence in Mumbai on Wednesday morning and taken to Alibag police station.
Mother and son committed suicide
A police official said that Alibag police arrested Goswami under Sections 306 and 34. In 2018, an architect and his mother allegedly committed suicide due to Goswami's non-payment of his dues by Republic TV.
Police accused of a scuffle
Goswami's lawyer made allegations of police scuffle with the journalist. The court then asked the police to take Goswami to the civil hospital for medical examination. After seeing the medical report, the court ordered that the allegations of physical torture are false and the accused has minor scratches on his hand.