New Delhi, Nov 9 (UNI) The All India Newspaper Editors' Conference (AINEC) on Monday condemned the manner in which Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami was arrested by Mumbai police on November 4 for his alleged involvement in the abetment to suicide of architect and interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother, over non-payment of dues by his firm.

Goswami was later sent to 14 days judicial custody by a local court.

AINEC president Ramesh Gupta, in a statement here, condemned the 'illegal and unethical manner of arrest' of Goswami by the Maharashtra government.

'Journalists from all over the country are facing grave threats in one form or the other for the past few years, making it increasingly difficult for independent and unbiased reporting,' he said.

He said that while AINEC condemns the arrest of any journalist in this manner, it also recognises the present state of 'highly politicised and polarised media, which has lost its credibility and unity'.

The AINEC urged all media organisations to introspect and unite to face these kind of challenges in a bold manner, to uphold the freedom of press.

Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Monday refused to grant an interim bail to Goswami in the case.

UNI NY RB RJ 1810