Arnab Goswami arrested in 2018 suicide abetment case – Mumbai Mirror

Mumbai: Around a dozen Raigad Police officials arrived at Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami’s residence on Wednesday morning and arrested him in connection with the 2018 suicide abetment case.

According to ANI, Goswami claimed that he has been physically assaulted by the police officials.

Reacting to it, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told mediapersons that the Maharashtra Police is allowed to take action against anyone given there is substantial evidence. “The law is followed in Maharashtra. Police can take action if they have evidence against anyone. Since the formation of Thackeray government, no action has been taken against anyone for revenge,” he said.

Goswami is currently being taken to the Alibaug police station where he will be produced before the magistrate’s court for custody.

According to initial information, Goswami has been arrested in connection to the 2018 case wherein he was accused of abetting the suicide of a 53-year-old interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother.

As per the FIR, Goswami had not paid his dues amounting to Rs 83 lakhs to Naik, who was forced to take the extreme step as he was not paid his dues collectively pitched at Rs 5.40 crore.

Besides Goswami, two others identified as Feroz Shaikh and Niteish Sarda were also booked in the case in 2018.

While the case was already closed, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in May 2020 ordered a re-investigation into it after a fresh complaint was filed by Adnya Naik, daughter of the deceased interior designer.

“Adnya Naik had complained to me that #AlibaugPolice had not investigated non-payment of dues from #ArnabGoswami’s @republic which drove her entrepreneur father & grandmom to suicide in May 2018. I’ve ordered a CID re-investigation of the case,” Deshmukh had tweeted.

As soon as the news about Goswami’s arrest broke, people took to social media to react to it.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar condemned the incident.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malaik tweeted, “Once upon a time there was a show called India’s Most Wanted & the Anchor highlighted murders & suicides, the same anchor was held responsible for his wife’s murder. Here is Part 2 of India’s Most Wanted, another anchor doing the same is now responsible for suicide (sic).”

BJP leader Tejasvi Surya announced a protest by BYJM near Mantralay in Mumbai against Goswami’s arrest.

The Editor’s Guild of India also issued a statement condemning the incident and asking the Maharashtra government to treat Goswami fairly.