After a marathon hearing session which lasted over six hours, the Bombay High Court on Saturday reserved orders on the applications filed by Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-Chief of the Republic TV, and other accused seeking interim release from custody.
in the 2018 abetment to suicide case. Despite fervent pleas made by Senior Advocate Harish Salve for ad-interim bail to Goswami – who has been under judicial custody since November 4 – a division bench of Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik refused to pass an immediate order for interim relief, as per Livelaw.in
Turning down Mr. Salve’s request, Justice Shinde said : “We can’t pass order today. It is already six. Meanwhile we will clarify that pendency of the petition will not bar the petitioner from approaching the sessions court for bail and if such an application is filed, it should be decided within 4 days.”
When Salve repeated his insistence that an ad-interim relief be granted ustice Shinde indicated that the Court will reserve orders and will pronounce them some day in coming week. He assured that the court will pronounce the order as early as possible.
In his bail plea, on a closed suicide case which was reopened by the Mumbai police without judicial consent, as per a report, Arnab Goswami has alleged he was beaten and tortured by the police.
Among other allegations, Goswami has claimed he suffered a 6-inch gash on his left hand, he was hit by a police officer’s boot, suffered a serious injury to his spinal chord and suffered vein injuries.
Arnab’s habeas corpus application, as per the report, says: “During the course of his arrest and while being transferred to Alibaug in a police van and in the custody of the police, the Petitioner suffered a 6-inch deep gash on his left hand, a serious injury to his spinal cord, was hit by a heavy uniform police officer’s boot, was not allowed to wear shoes throughout, suffered vein injuries and was not even given access to drinking water. Additionally, the petitioner was also forced to consume certain liquid by the police officers guarding him and choked as a result thereof.”
In May 2018, an FIR was filed against Arnab Goswami after an interior designer had committed suicide in Mumbai. In a suicide note, Anvay Naik claimed Goswami owed him a total of Rs 5.4 crore. However, Goswami was investigated and case was closed by court after a closure report was filed by the Police.
