That Arnab Goswami Will Go Back To TV And Scream At Police Commissioner Can't Be A Ground To Keep Him In Custody : Salve In Bombay High Court

Senior Advocate Harish Salve on Friday made a fervent plea before the Bombay High Court for the interim release of Arnab Goswami from custody in the 2018 abetment to suicide case.After making elaborate legal arguments on why no prima facie case was made out against Goswami, Salve sought for interim release."What is the harm if this gentelman is released on bail?What is going to happen between now and after Diwali?", Salve submitted before a divsion bench comprising Justices S S Shinde and M S Karnik."The problem cannot be that he will go back to the TV channel and scream and will make allegations against Parambhir Singh(Mumbai Police Commissioner). He will certainly. But that it is no ground to keep him in custody", Salve continued.Salve : There is a prima facie finding of the Magistrate before you that the arrest is illegal. The root is tainted with illegality. This should weigh with your lordships. The whole thing is mala fide.#ArnabGoswami #RepublicTV #BombayHC— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) November 6, 2020 The bench said that it cannot consider the prayer for interim release without hearing the State and the Complainant. Since there was paucity of time today, the bench has decided to hold a special sitting tomorrow at 12 PM.During the course of hearing today, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, referred to the remand order passed by CJM Alibag, which he submitted, "makes important points about the illegality of arrest and the lack of merits in the allegations against Arnab Goswami".He pointed out that the CJM had stated in his order that "it seems that the arrest of the accused (Arnab Goswami) is illegal."He argued that a mere challenge to the said order does not matter as the CJM had passed the order after seeing the records and the case diary."Direct Link Between Death Of Victims & Accused Seems Not Established, Arrest Prima Facie Unjustified", CJM Observes In Arnab Goswami's Remand OrderThere must be direct act which led the deceased to commit suicideOn merits, Salve argued that there was no personal relationship between Goswami and the deceased and they were merely involved in a commercial transaction."You have commercial disputes with different people for over two years. You don't file a suit. You have creditors beating at your door. You kill yourself. There cannot be FIR for abetment to suicide for this.The conduct for abetment to suicide must be direct and proximate… The Magistrate had rightly accepted the closure report of the police in 2019," he argued.Reliance was placed on the Supreme Court's judgment in M Arjunan v. State, where it was held that mere use of abusive words for not paying back money borrowed will not amount to abetment to suicide under Section 306 IPC."The intention of the accused to aid or instigate or abet the deceased to commit suicide is necessary for abetment to suicide offence," he submitted.Salve also referred to Gurucharan Singh v. State of Punjab, where the Supreme Court had categorically held that without a positive act on the part of the accused to instigate or aid in committing suicide, conviction cannot be sustained."Merely on the allegation of harassment without there being any positive action proximate to the time of occurrence on the part of the accused which led or compelled the person to commit suicide, conviction in terms of Section 306 IPC is not sustainable," Salve quoted from the judgment.State acting out of maliceSalve also argued against the remarks made by Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in the Assembly discussions about the journalism of Goswami, where he claimed that the suicide of Anvay Naik was due to the non-payment of dues by Goswami."The Home Minister said that necessary orders will be issued to the Police…Is the Minister above the judiciary to decide?," Salve remarked.He contended that the State is acting out of malice and there is a clear pattern depicting the same. He submitted,"HC has protected him (Goswami) from arrest in two FIRs. The TRP case came after that…Today C S Vaidyanathan (Hansa) told the Court that they are being asked by Mumbai Police to frame Republic TV and Arnab Goswami."Delete We only filed a complaint to unearth the TRP scam. It was not against any particular channel. Now I am being forced to appear and give statements against Republic : Vaidyanathan for Hansa.#ArnabGoswami— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) November 6, 2020Notably, the Supreme Court today issued contempt notice to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker for notice against Goswami and intimidating him for approaching the Court against the same."The Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had alleged in Assembly that Arnab Goswami was responsible for the suicide. This is where the entire case starts. He was also issued a privilege notice. The Supreme Court today issued contempt notice to Assembly Secretary for letter," Salve told the Bench.Supreme Court Issues Contempt Notice To Maharashtra Assembly Secretary Over Letter To Arnab Goswami; Stays Arrest Of Republic TV AnchorPlea of Habeas...

That Arnab Goswami Will Go Back To TV And Scream At Police Commissioner Can't Be A Ground To Keep Him In Custody : Salve In Bombay High Court

LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK

Tags