The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami in a 2018 abetment to suicide case. Arnab and two others were arrested in connection with the suicide of architect Anvay Naik and his mother.
A two-judge bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee granted Arnab Goswami bail. Two others Feroz Shaikh and Nitesh Sarda who were remanded to 14-day judicial custody along with Arnab were also given bail. The bail was given on a bond of Rs 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 news anchor had moved the Apex Court after being denied bail by the Mumbai High Court.
The Supreme Court has also asked the High Courts to exercise their jurisdiction to uphold personal liberty. A vacation bench of Justices also expressed concern over state governments targeting “individuals on the basis of ideology, a difference of opinion”. They added that and State Government must realise there is an apex court to protect the liberty of citizens.
For the unversed, On 4 November, Goswami was arrested in the death case of interior designer Anvay Naik, who allegedly died by suicide in Alibaug in May 2018. A suicide note purportedly written by Naik alleged that Goswami had not paid him his dues. Naik and his mother Kumud Naik died by suicide at their farmhouse in Maharashtra’s Alibaug on 5 May 2018.
Also Read: Bombay High Court Denies Interim Bail To Arnab Goswami