The Supreme Court has adjourned the matter for two weeks while hearing a petition filed by Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami against the breach of privilege notice issued in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. While hearing the case, the bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde said “we have to follow the law in the case”.
Significantly, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik had proposed this against Arnab Goswami in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Transport Minister Anil Parab demanded the strictest action against Arnab Goswami. Pratap Sarnaik had said, “I condemn the language that Arnab Goswami has used against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress chief Sharad Pawar. In the name of freedom of expression, there has been an attempt to tarnish the reputation of both Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. Strict action should be taken against Arnab Goswami”.
After this, Shiv Sena moved a motion for breach of privilege against Goswami in both houses of Maharashtra Assembly, which was accepted by the Speaker and sent a 60-page notice to him. In this, Arnab was sent a show-cause notice by the Assembly on September 16 for criticizing the government in the case of the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Arnab challenged this in the Supreme Court. On which the court has given this decision while hearing today. Senior advocate Harish Salve was appearing on behalf of Arnab and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on behalf of the Maharashtra government.
What is the case of Arnav Goswami?
Significantly, Mumbai police had also approached the Supreme Court by editor Arnab Goswami of the republic TV to rescind the new FIR filed against him. He had requested the court to provide security to his family and the employees of the channel and instruct the police not to register a new FIR. The Supreme Court had transferred the case in Mumbai and stayed the rest of the FIRs.
Arnab is accused of airing two TV programs on his news channel to spread communal hatred against Muslims. He was also accused of using abusive language for congress President Sonia Gandhi. Let me tell you that Arnab, the founder of Republic TV, has often been in controversy over his programs. Let me tell you, FIRs have been lodged against Arnab Goswami at several places for alleged derogatory statements against Congress President Sonia Gandhi in a news show on the beating of sadhus by a mob in Palghar. In April 2020, last week Mumbai Police has also questioned Arnab for around twelve hours.
