Arnab Goswami was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in 2018 abetment to suicide case which, the police said, was reopened on the request of Anvay Naik’s family.
New Delhi:
Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami walked out of jail this evening after he was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in a 2018 abetment to suicide case. He and two others were arrested last week in connection with the suicide of architect Anvay Naik and his mother.
A two-judge bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee pulled up the Maharashtra government over the TV anchor’s arrest as they heard the petition through video conferencing.
“If we as a constitutional court do not lay down law and protect liberty, then who will,” the Supreme Court said during the hearing.
“The victim is entitled to recourse as in proper and fair probe,” the judges ruled.
The Supreme Court said Arnab Goswami must cooperate with the probe. The court also said the release of the three must not be delayed by two days and asked them to furnish bonds of ₹ 50,000.
The hearing comes two days after the Bombay High Court turned down Mr Goswami’s plea against his arrest and the reopening of the case. The High Court said the journalist could take his bail request go to the lower court, which had to decide within four days.
Today, the Supreme Court had some tough words for the Maharashtra government over the TV anchor’s arrest last Wednesday.
According to the Mumbai police, Anvay Naik, who designed the sets of Republic TV, had left a suicide note blaming Mr Goswami and two others for dues he alleged had not been paid to him.
The case was closed two years ago, with the police citing lack of evidence. It was reopened recently on the request of Mr Naik’s family, the police said.