Suicide abetment case: Congress asks why Arnab Goswami is free without anticipatory bail

Congress on Wednesday questioned police inaction against Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami over an abetment to suicide case, asking why he was still roaming free without any anticipatory bail.

Police had registered a case under Section 306 of IPC (abetment to suicide) against Goswami and two others on Tuesday after an interior designer, Anvay Naik (53), allegedly committed suicide along with his mother, over "non-payment" of dues. The police, however, haven’t arrested the accused persons so far.

Naik’s wife Akshata Anvi Naik (48) had eventually lodged a police complaint.  A suicide note purportedly written by Naik, managing director of Concorde Designs Private Limited, stated that he was forced to take his life as he was not paid his ₹5.40-crore dues by the three.

“The nation wants to know, what is the investigation that Maharashtra police has done so far. Why is Arnab still free without availing an anticipatory bail? Is it the clout enjoyed by Arnab that he has still not been arrested or interrogated in this case,” Congress leader Pawan Khera asked.

Khera said, “Why is the police under CM Devendra Fadnavis not acting on the FIR filed by Ms Akshata Anvai Naik?” asked Pawan Khera, Congress spokesperson, adding that “a suicide note is as crucial as dying declaration. The nation wants to know, what progress Maharashtra police have made in this case?”

To a comment from a senior journalist saying it was sad that political parties are now holding press conferences over media, Khera said “Law of the land has to be the same for a common man and Shri Arnab Goswami. Who will speak for the woman who lost her husband and is awaiting action on the FIR?”