NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday said the interim bail given to Republic TV's editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and others on December 11 in an alleged abetment to suicide case will remain in force till the Bombay high court decides their petitions for quashing of the FIR in the case.
The apex court added that their bail would remain in force for four weeks after the HC decision, so as to enable them to move the SC if the HC rejected their pleas.
"Prima facie evaluation of FIR lodged by Maharashtra police about alleged non-payment of dues driving the businessman to commit suicide does not establish prima facie a charge of abetment against Goswami," a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee said.
The SC said the Bombay HC abdicated its duty in protecting the liberties of a citizen who had been complaining that he was being targeted by the Maharashtra government for his unplayable views expressed in his TV channel.