A division bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice SS Shinde and MS Karnik on Monday rejected the interim bail and directed the Sessions Court to decide on Arnab Goswami’s bail plea within 4 days of his filing the petition.
While rejecting the interim bail application of Arnab, the bench clarified that its observations are prima facie in nature and will not apply to the application made by the Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief seeking regular bail. It held that the rejection of the interim bail plea will not be construed as an impediment to Arnab seeking alternative remedies. It held that the rejection of the interim bail plea will not be construed as an impediment to Arnab seeking alternative remedies.
Arnab Goswami was arrested by Maharashtra Police on Wednesday morning. While Arnab was being shifted to the Taloja Jail on November 8, he said, “My life is under threat. I am not allowed to speak to my lawyers. I was pushed and assaulted this morning. They woke me up at 6 am. They said I will not let you speak to the lawyers. I want to tell the people of the country that my life is under threat”.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari spoke to state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and conveyed to him his concern over Arnab’s security and health. He also asked Deshmukh to allow Arnab’s family to meet him in jail.
Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court Gaurav Bhatia on Monday wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde urging him to take suo moto cognizance of “the blatant violation of basic human rights by Maharashtra Government and the Mumbai Police” during the illegal arrest of Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.
BJP leader Ram Kadam continued to stage protest in support of Arnab after his arrest and harassment. He has now decided to go to Taloja jail, where Arnab Goswami is lodged. He equated the conduct of the Maharastra Vikas Aghadi as ‘Ravan Raaj’ and that they should be ‘ashamed’ for targeting Arnab Goswami.
