Arnab Goswami being shifted from Alibag COVID-19 Quarantine Center dedicated to prisoners to Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
(Express Photo By Narendra Vasker)Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari called up state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and expressed concern over the safety and health of Republic TV editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami. On Sunday, Goswami had alleged that he was “assaulted” in jail and was not being allowed access to his lawyers.
According to Raj Bhavan, the Governor also asked the Home minister to allow the family of Goswami to see him and speak to him. The Governor had earlier conveyed his concern over the manner of Goswami’s arrest.
“I received a call from the Governor where he said that the family of Arnab Goswami should be allowed to meet him in jail. However, in view of the pandemic for the last four months in all jails of the state relatives of prisoners are not being allowed to meet them as there is fear of the virus spreading. For this reason the family of Arnab will not be able to meet him in prison. However, they can speak to him on the phone,” Deshmukh said.
He also said that prisoners were allowed to use phones in certain cases provided they had the prior permission of the jail authorities.
Deshmukh declined to comment on the accusations of Goswami that he has been beaten in jail. “The matter is sub-judice and it would not be right on my part to comment on it,” he said.
He also added that an inquiry had been initiated into the conduct of Investigating Officer Suresh Varade during the investigation into the death of Anvay Naik.
Meanwhile, the NCP did not take kindly to the Governor’s call and said that it would have been better if the Governor had shown sympathy to Anvay Naik’s family instead of showing sympathy to an individual booked for a serious crime.
“The way the Governor is showing sympathy for a particular accused like Arnab Goswami and not siding with Naik’s family which for months had to run around seeking justice is not proper,” state Cabinet minister and NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said.