On Wednesday, sudden news goes on Republic TV that Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami has been arrested. According to the channel, a Mumbai police team reached Arnab’s house on Wednesday morning and took him in a police van. According to news agency PTI, police said that Arnab has been arrested for allegedly committing the suicide of a 53-year-old interior designer. According to the other news agency ANI, Goswami has alleged that the Mumbai Police had a scuffle him with his wife, son, and father-in-law. Many such screenshots are going viral on social media in which the police are seen entering Arnab’s house and there is a clash. A video is being shown on the Republic TV channel in which the police are taking Arnab to a police van. The channel claims that Arnab has been arrested in a case that has already been closed.
In which case the arrest was made?
Arnab’s arrest is believed to be linked to the alleged suicide of a Marathi interior designer, Anvay Naik. In a letter purportedly preceded by suicide in May 2018, Anvay alleged that Arnab had not paid him after the interior design of the Republic Network’s studio was done.
A few days ago in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, a motion for breach of privilege was filed against Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami, which was accepted in the Assembly. After this, it was believed that the Assembly might soon start taking action against Arnab. In the Maharashtra Assembly, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said at the time that Arnab Goswami would be impartially investigated in the Anvay case. A few days ago, the hashtag ‘Justice for Anvay’ was widely known on social media inside Maharashtra.
Police accused of pushing
Arnab Goswami accused the Mumbai police of trying to assault him. Arnab also alleged that he, along with his father-in-law, his wife, and his son had been abused by the police. A video is also being shown on Republic Channel in which the police are seen in his house and in another video the police are seen taking Arnab out.
Comparison of Arnab’s arrest with emergency
BJP leaders reacted after Arnab’s arrest, calling it a threat to the freedom of the press and comparing it to an emergency. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut also targeted the Maharashtra government fiercely.
Reacting to the matter, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Congress and their allies have embarrassed democracy. It is an abuse of power against Arnab Goswami and the fourth pillar of democracy and an attack on personal freedom.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar compared this to the Emergency, writing that “The attack on press journalism in Mumbai is condemnable. This action of the Maharashtra government is like the Emergency we condemn. In the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the Congress is still with an emergency mindset, the proof of this is given by his government in Maharashtra. The people of India will give a democratic answer to it.”
Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani wrote that at this time those who are not in support of Arnab are supporting fascism. He asked who will speak next time if this happens to you?
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also tweeted on the matter, writing that “the arrest of senior journalist Arnab Goswami is scandalous and worrying. We fought for the freedom of the press while opposing the Emergency of 1975.”
Kangana Ranaut attacked the Maharashtra government in her video on social media as usual. She has asked in the video that “Today you went to Arnab Goswami’s house and arrested him and assaulted him. How many houses will you break?”
The Editors of Guild has also issued a press statement strongly condemning the arrest of Arnab.
