Arnab Moves Supreme Court in Bandra Case; Accuses Police of Malice & Ill-Will

Days after an FIR was registered against Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, the senior journalist approached the Supreme Court; demanding to quash the FIR. The FIR against Goswami alleged trying to disturb communal harmony’. Raza Educational Welfare Society secretary Irfan Abubakar Shaikh registered the FIR on Saturday; under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), i.e. Section 153 (provocation with the intent to cause riot), Section 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 295A (outraging religious feelings of any class of citizens) as well as Sections 500, 505 (2), 511 and 120 B.

The rationale of the prayer for quashing plea rests on the principle of double jeopardy. In essence, the police cannot register FIR on the same cause of action, as enunciated in Arnab’s writ petition. Furthermore, Arnab rejects the allegation raised in the FIR. In terms of investigations carried out by his channel, “Republic TV unearthed a fake migrant crisis in the State of Maharashtra in relation to a gathering” which he contends exposes the “Congress Party Eco-System“.

Goswami goes on to state that it is outrightly clear that several complaints shall be filed against the Journalist; at the behest of “certain political and vested interests” so as to silence his constitutional rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) & 21. In this regard, the plea highlights the alleged course of action that had led to the filing of multiple FIRs across the country against him. Respondents also sought the protection of his family as well as colleagues at Republic TV.