Bombay HC denies relief to Arnab Goswami, directs him to appear for interrogation before police

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami to appear before the Mumbai Police for interrogation on June 10, while adjourning the hearing in his plea for quashing of FIRs till Friday, legal news website BarandBench.com reports.

The Bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Riyaz Chagla directed the same after a brief hearing today.

Goswami had moved the Bombay High Court seeking quashing of the two FIRs registered against him on April 22 and May 2 in relation to his remarks and comments made during primetime debate shows. The comments were made during Republic TV programs pertaining to the gathering of migrant workers in Mumbai's Bandra on April 14, and the Palghar lynching incident.

Goswami was accused of making incendiary and hateful statements that caused disharmony among communities.

After the Supreme Court refused to quash the FIRs filed against Goswami in Maharashtra and directed him to approach the appropriate forum, Goswami moved the Bombay High Court.

When the matter was taken up for hearing on Tuesday via video conferencing, Goswami's counsel, Senior Counsel Harish Salve, sought an exemption from appearing before the police for interrogation till the matter was sub judice before the court. This prayer was objected to by Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal, representing the state of Maharashtra.

It was contended on behalf of Goswami that despite the pendency of his matter before the court, Pydhonie Police Station had requisitioned his presence for interrogation in relation to the FIR filed by the Secretary of Raza Foundation. Pydhonie is a COVID-19 containment zone, it was pointed out.

Sibal suggested that Goswami may appear before NM Joshi Marg Police Station, where another FIR is registered, and that the investigating officers from Pydhonie Police station may question Goswami there.

The court thus directed Goswami to appear before the NM Joshi Marg Police Station for questioning on June 10 as scheduled, and listed the matter for hearing next on June 12.