MUMBAI: Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Monday expressed concern over the security and health of Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, who is in judicial custody in Taloja jail.
According to a statement issued by Raj Bhavan, Koshyari spoke to Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh and conveyed to him his concern. Further, Koshyari asked Deshmukh to allow Goswami’s family to see him and speak to him. The governor had earlier conveyed his concern over the manner of Goswami’s arrest to Deshmukh.
Deshmukh, commenting on Koshyari’s statement, said no visitors were allowed in jails at the moment. “Koshyari did call me today. We are taking care of not only Goswami, but of all prisoners lodged in jail. However, in view of the coronavirus pandemic, stringent restrictions are in force on visits to the jail. For the last four months, we have stopped visitors. I have accordingly informed the governor,” he said.
The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party expressed surprise over what it called the silence maintained by Koshyari over the plight of the family of Anway Naik, who committed suicide in May 2018.
NCP spokesperson and skill development minister Nawab Malik reacted sharply to Koshyari’s statement, saying it was unfortunate that the governor was sympathetic to an accused in a serious crime instead of being sympathetic towards members of the Naik family.
“We were expecting that Koshyari would take note of the plight of the Naik family. However, he has taken up the cause of Goswami, the main accused in the abetment to suicide case. We are surprised by the view taken by the governor,” Malik said.
Malik said that Goswami would be given all facilities and concessions as per the provisions of the jail manual. “We will follow the provisions of law, there is no question of harassment or ill-treatment to any undertrial. We feel that Koshyari is taking Goswami’s side. As per the jail manual, it is the responsibility of the state government to take care of undertrials and convicts lodged in jail. Members of the Naik family were knocking at the doors of the authorities for justice, but Koshyari did not find time to hear their views,” Malik said.