It is known that Republic TV’s head honcho Arnab Goswami who had created ripples in television industry with his ‘India wants to know’ slogan, was jailed by the Maharashtra police on charges of abetting the suicide of interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud Naik.
In a case filed by Naik’s daughter, it was said that Arnab did not release Rs 83 lakh that this company was due to Concorde Designs Private Limited, towards the Bombay Dyeing Studio Project.
The arrest was made on November 4, 2020, from his residence in Mumbai. However, it resulted in huge public support and media outrage against Arnab’s arrest. There was also criticism levelled against Maharashtra government for curtailing the freedom of press.
Amidst lot of brouhaha, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Arnab Goswami. A two-judge bench comprising DY Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee heard the petition through video-conferencing and admonished the Maharashtra government. “The victim is entitled to recourse as in proper and fair probe,” the apex court ruled. The accused were released after paying bonds of Rs 50,000 and were told to co-operate with the probe.
Two years back, the case was closed due to lack of evidence and it was reopened after the family of Anvay Naik once again approached the police.
As for Arnab Goswami, who is now out of jail, he is making it clear that he has not been bogged down by recent events. He has announced that he will open Republic TV channels in all local languages in 11-12 months and even went on to add that he will start international reporting in 16-17 months time.
“I will launch the channels even from inside the jail and you won’t be able to do anything,” was his big statement.