Three fresh FIRs lodged against Republic TV head Arnab Goswami in Punjab

Three fresh FIRs were registered against Republic TV head Arnab Goswami over his remarks on Congress president Sonia Gandhi during a debate on Palghar lynching under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Friday.

While two FIRs were registered on the complaint of Congress leaders, in Jalandhar and Phillaur; in Ludhiana, it was registered on the complaint of the president of the Christian United Federation (CUF).

President of the CUF, Albert Dua in his FIR alleged Goswami for hurting “sentiments of Christian community”.

“Goswami has used words such as ‘mombatti gang’ and ‘paadri’ (priests) which has hurt sentiments of the Christian community,” said Dua. The FIR has been registered at Dugri police station under sections 153-A, 153-B, 295-A, 504, and 505 of IPC.

The second FIR has been registered at division number 6 police station of Jalandhar city on the complaint of local Congress leader Jasleen Sethi.

Saying that Goswami has used “objectionable language against Sonia Gandhi”, “incited hatred” and “promoted animosity and enmity between different religious groups” during a debate on Palghar lynching on April 21. Goswami has been booked under sections 153, 153-A, 153-B (1) (c), 295-A, 298, 500, 504, and 505 of IPC.

The third FIR, against Goswami, was registered at Phillaur police station by Jalandhar rural police on the complaint of former Punjab Youth Congress president, Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary.

Chaudhary, in his complaint, said that Goswami tried to communalize the Palghar lynching incident and passed “deplorable and shameful” remarks against Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Goswami has been booked under sections 153-A, 153-B, 295-A, 504, and 505 of IPC at Phillaur police station.

Meanwhile, hearing on Goswami’s petition, the Supreme Court on Friday granted him protection against any “coercive steps for three weeks” in connection with the 100-plus FIRs filed against him, over his remarks on Congress president Sonia Gandhi.