The Mumbai Police has once again summoned the chief editor of Republic TV Arnab Goswami for another round of interrogation which is in connection with a complaint filed against Goswami at the city’s Pydhonie police station. This is the second time Mumbai Police has summoned Goswami.
On May 2nd Irfan Abubakar Shaikh of the Raza educational welfare society filed a complaint against Arnab Goswami for allegedly trying to disturb the communal harmony in the country. The complaint refers to a show hosted by Goswami on 29th April which has been accused of spreading hatred against the Muslim community.
In the show, Arnab Goswami deliberately tried to paint a communal picture over the gathering of migrant workers in Mumbai Bandra station. The deputy commissioner of police and Mumbai Police PRO, Pranay Ashok spoke to the media and said,
“The Mumbai Police has called Arnab Goswami for questioning in connection with the FIR at the Pydhonie police station. This is the first time we will be interrogating him in this case.”
The FIR has been file under sections 153 which is a provocation with intent to cause a riot, 153A promoting enmity between different groups, 295A outraging religious feelings of any class of citizens, 500 defamation, 505 (2) statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred for ill will between classes and 120B criminal conspiracy.
On 19th May the supreme court had refused to transfer the case to The Central Bureau of investigation from the Mumbai Police.
The Previous Interrogation Lasted For 12 Hours
Previously Mumbai Police had interrogated Arnab Goswami for more than 12 hours in connection with a case related to republic TV broadcast against the Congress party president Sonia Gandhi. As per the complaint Goswami used to derogatory language against the Congress President and meet inflammatory statements during a debate broadcast on the Republic TV. The broadcast was about lynching incident off two Sadhus and their driver in Maharashtra’s Palghar.
In the month of May, the supreme court had ordered quashing of multiple FIR against Arnab Goswami in several States along the same lines. However, the court said the primary FIR in the case shall be transferred from Nagpur to Mumbai.
Source: The Print
