Vendetta of the Maharashtra Government against Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami continues unabated. In yet another brazen attempt to harass that Republic TV Editor-in-chief who was arrested earlier in the day in an old closed case, an FIR has been registered against Arnab Goswami for allegedly assaulting an on-duty lady police officer when she, accompanied by 30 to 40 police personnel reached the journalist’s house early in the morning today to arrest him. Arnab Goswami was arrested by Raigad police in a 2018 shut case which was re-opened on the directions of the Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
FIR registered against Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami for allegedly assaulting a lady police officer when police team reached his residence in Mumbai this morning.
The irony of the situation is that despite several videos, which have emerged during the course of the day, show how Arnab had been physically assaulted by a horde of police officers who barged into the senior journalist’s house at around 6:30 in the morning today and dragged Arnab into the police van, the FIR which has now been registered against Arnab, states that he was the one who assaulted a police officer. It may be noted that none of the videos which have surfaced so far shows Arnab Goswami assaulting any police officer. He was surrounded by 30-40 cops armed with AK-47 Assault riffles, therefore it is difficult to imagine how he could have assaulted a lady police officer in that situation.
Meanwhile, immense support for all over the country and the world has been pouring in for the senior journalist. Hashtags like #IndiawithArnab and #ArnabGoswami has been trending on Twitter. Infuriated citizens in places like Delhi, Bhopal, Guwahati and Jammu have hit the streets demanding that Arnab Goswami is released immediately and the Mumbai Police officers who physically assaulted Arnab be removed.
Arnab Goswami assaulted by Mumbai police
In a shocking act, the Mumbai Police barged into the residence of Arnab Goswami and not only tried to forcefully arrest the Republic TV chief but also physically attacked his family, including his son and elderly in-laws.
Reportedly, more than 30-40 Mumbai Police personnel, in an act of intimidation had carried armaments such as AK-47 as they dragged and pulled Arnab Goswami by the hair to pick him in a police van to detain at Raigad police station.
Delhi based lawyer Siddharth Nayak has filed a complaint against the arrest of Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). In the petition, the lawyer who is the Managing Partner of New Delhi based legal firm Atharva Legal LLP, has alleged that Arnab Goswami was arrested without warrant in a case which was closed in 2018.
The petition states Raigad Police in an operation with Mumbai police had threatened to encounter Arnab Goswami ad they were carrying AK-47 assault riffles while going to his house to arrest him. Advocate Siddharth Nayak has appealed the NHRC to take cognizance of the matter and take action against the police officials for violation of human rights of one of the top journalists of the country.
The full statement issued by the petitioner has been given below:
In an important development following the unlawful and politically motivated arrest of Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief, Arnab Goswami, a public spirited lawyer named Mr. Siddharth Nayak, Managing Partner of New Delhi based legal firm Atharva Legal LLP, filed a complaint today on 04.11.2020 at 05:00 PM with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) vide diary number 19337/IN/2020 (A copy of the complaint filed is attached herewith) against Mumbai Police and Raigad Police for unjustly and illegally manhandling, assaulting and arresting Mr. Arnab Goswami from his residence in Mumbai. The complaint before NHRC was filed to initiate action against Mumbai Police and Raigad Police for this blatant and brazenly illegitimate action of arresting Mr Goswami under Section 306 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code 1856 with regard to a suicide case registered and closed in 2018. The police alleges this arrest was made for abetting suicide. To highlight the gravity of the situation the complaint drew attention to the manner in which the arrest was made, “At 07:45 AM today a battalion of Armed Police carrying assault rifles entered Mr. Goswami’s house and physically assaulted him. He was forcibly dragged by his hair into the police van before being arrested by Raigad Police in Maharashtra. The police forcibly shut off news cameras before barging into the residence of Mr Goswami and attacking and thrashing a reputed national TV news journalist. The police even went to levels of misbehaving with Mr Goswami’s elderly parents, in-laws, and assaulting his son.” According to the videos released by the family members of Mr. Goswami while the arrest was being made, permission for putting up a legal note on record was denied. No summons were served by the police before performing this illegitimate action. Mr. Goswami was denied all legal or medical assistance despite his injuries in the physical assault perpetrated by the Police. Mr Goswami was dragged out of his residence like a hardened criminal without a shred of evidence against him, against utter disregard for his status and reputation as a member of society, citizenry and senior member of the Fourth Estate. According to the family members of Arnab Goswami, Mumbai Police Officer Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Hindurao Vaze, an infamous ‘encounter specialist’ who holds the blighted disrepute of as many as 63 extra-judicial murders in addition to murder charges for the custodial death of Khwaja Yunus in 2003, led the open criminal intimidation and brazen assault on Mr Goswami in shape of the illegal police action while issuing criminal threats saying, “You don’t know what I am capable of.” API Sachin Vaze, suspended since the year 2007, was reinstated recently by a committee led by Mumbai Police Commissioner citing lack of police officers during the COVID19 pandemic. It is strange that within a few days of his reinstatement, an illegal and unlawful action of the police much similar to the modus operandi of Mr. Vaze takes place. In fact, three other policemen also accused in the same case, Rajendra Tiwari, Kajaram Nikam and Sunil Desai were reinstated via an executive order dated June 6, 2020 which revoked the suspension of 14 other policemen as well. Deputy Commissioner of Police and Mumbai police spokesperson Pranay Ashok confirmed that Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh has revoked suspension of assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze and police constables Rajendra Tiwari, Rajaram Nikam and Sunil Desai. API Waze was posted in Naigaon police headquarters. Despite Mr Goswami’s repeated insistence and past history of co-operation with the law, Mumbai Police threw all due process, integrity and fairness in the wind by dragging Mr Goswami by the collar to a crime branch unit where he was allegedly physically assaulted further. Mr Goswami was refused access to his legal team by the Raigad Police. ‘Encounter specialist’ and allegedly Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh’s right-hand man, Mr Sachin Vaze, declared that Mr Goswami has been arrested on grave charges of Section 306 IPC. It is on record that Mumbai police had investigated and closed the false case lodged against Mr Goswami back in 2018 in the said suicide case by stating in a court of law that no case was made out. As per news sources, Maharashtra Police DG did not approve with the CID Chief on Mr Goswami’s arrest, therefore Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and Mumbai CP Param Bir Singh met over the issue and SP Raigad was directly given orders from CM office for Mr Goswami’s arrest. Mumbai Police has been long known for their uniformed criminality. Earlier in April 2020, Anant Karmuse, a 40-year-old civil engineer in Mumbai was illegally taken by Mumbai Police personnel to NCP Minister Jitendra Awhad’s bungalow where the minister’s men thrashed him for posting a morphed photo over social media. The attack on the Fourth Estate without any evidence or verifiable facts, on the basis of closed case being reopened with the sole aim to make an unwarranted illegitimate arrest of Mr Goswami is extremely shocking to the point that it shakes India’s belief in good governance and policing. The complaint has been filed with the NHRC and notice is yet to be issued.
The Mumbai police had arrested Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami today morning from his house in relation to a 2018 abetment to suicide case which was already closed by the police. The investigation in the case has been reopened by Alibaug police on the directions of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. In May 2018, an FIR was filed against Arnab Goswami in an alleged abetment to suicide case. An Interior Designer named
The Mumbai police had arrested Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami today morning from his house in relation to a 2018 abetment to suicide case which was already closed by the police. The investigation in the case has been reopened by Alibaug police on the directions of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. In May 2018, an FIR was filed against Arnab Goswami in an alleged abetment to suicide case. An Interior Designer named Anvay Naik had committed suicide in his bungalow in Alibaug. In a suicide note, Anvay Naik claimed Goswami and the other two persons—Feroz Shaikh and Niteish Sarda—owed him a total of Rs 5.4 crore. However, the case was closed by the court after a closure report was filed by the Police saying there was no evidence of the allegations.
Republic TV has said that it has paid 90 percent of the dues to deceased Anvay Naik’s company Concorde Designs Pvt. Ltd. (CDPL) over two years ago and that the remaining amount was to be paid on the completion of the pending work that has not been undertaken ever since. The statement further said ARG Outlier media Pvt Ltd, the company that owns Republic TV, had made several attempts for complete and final settlement of all claims but the absence of shareholders or directors in CDPL rendered the attempts unsuccessful.
Protests have erupted in many parts of the country after Maharashtra police barged in the house of Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami to arrest him in a 2018 case that was closed by the court. Decorated war veteran Major General GD Bakshi extended support for Arnab Goswami while holding a protest with veterans at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Speaking to media Major General Bakshi (R) said, “Arnab, you are the son of a Colonel. You are the son of lion. You fight, all the veterans are with you”. He said that he would not let go in vain the principles that he and many other soldiers fought for. “You can not snatch away our freedom so easliy”, he said.
“They are trying to show that they are above the law. No one, my boy, is above the law. I wore the uniform for 4 years to abide by and safeguard the law laid down by the government. I cannot behave as per my whims. I cannot misuse my uniform”, Major General Bakshi (R) lashed out at the Maharashtra police.
We have fought for this freedom: Major General Bakshi (R)
Coming down heavily on the Thackeray government in Maharashtra, Major General Bakshi (R) said, “They, Sir, want to stop freedom of the press. They don’t want to be criticised. You, Sir, are not above critcism (he said referring to Maharashtra government)”. He said that if the government wants vote from people then it would have to tolerate criticism. “Ye azadi hum ne lad k li hai. Ye tumhari khairat nhi hai” (We have fought for this freedom. This is not your gift to us.), said the angry war veteran.
Questioning the manner in which Arnab Goswami wa dragged by the Mumbai police out of his house Major General Bakshi (R) said, “You need 70 men armed with AK-47 to arrest one journalist who has a pen in his pocket? First pull down the house of Dawood Ibrahim and then talk”. He said that the state government is trying to crush the democracy. He said that Arnab was his friend but he was there for something bigger than their friendship and that is the fundamental principles of a democracy.
“Who are you to chain the press like a dog?”
“This is not China of Xi Xinping. Don’t try to make it Imran Khan’s Pakistan either where people are killed and journalists disappear if they criticise the Army”, said Major General Bakshi (R) taking on the Maharashtra government. He termed the situation in Maharashtra “worse than emergency”. He caled out the Thackeray government for demolishing the house of actress Kangana Ranaut and not daring to touch the house of Dawood Ibrahim. “Who are you to chain the press like a dog?”, Major General Bakshi questioned.
The battle between Republic TV and Maharashtra government has taken an ugly turn with the state government misusing state machinery in the worst possible manner to muzzle free speech.
In yet another flare-up between the West Bengal administration and the workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kolkata police roughed up several BJP workers participating in a rally in Kolkata’s Central Avenue area to protest against deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Several BJP workers were also been arrested by the WB police.
The BJP workers had taken out the rally from the BJP headquarters in Kolkata’s Central Avenue and were heading towards the Gandhi statue in Mayo road when the rally was impeded by the Kolkata police at around 100 meters from where the rally had begun. They were protesting against the series of political violence against BJP workers in the state which have seen a large number of BJP workers and leaders killed allegedly by TMC workers.
The Kolkata police, working at the behest of WB CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, physically mauled the BJP workers and forcefully lifted some of them off the road. There was a lot of pushing and shoving, and a lot of BJP Mahila Morcha workers were also reportedly physically manhandled in the ensuing skirmish. The Kolkata police were seen mercilessly assaulting many workers with batons and lathis. BJP karyakartas were allegedly trying to breach barricades put up by the police to stop the BJP workers from carrying out the rally. CNN News18 has shared a video of the incident on Twitter.
#NewsAlert | Violence at BJP rally in West Bengal.
Several BJP workers arrested by the WB police.@Sougata_Mukh with the details.
After the arrests, BJP workers staged a sit-in-protest. The Central Avenue road which is one of the main arterial road in Kolkata remains blocked and the situation remains tense.
West Bengal police had turned BJP’s ‘Nabanna Chalo’ rally in Kolkata into a bloodbath
West Bengal police’s high-handedness, especially towards BJP workers in the state is no secret. Recently, disturbing images of the attack on the BJP karyakartas at the ‘Nabanna Chalo’ rally had surfaced. For the uninitiated, the BJYM members in West Bengal’s Kolkata had on October 8, carried out the ‘Nabanno Chalo’ protest rally over the deteriorating law and order situation and continued attack and murder of BJP leader. Images had circulated then on social media revealing how the state police had mercilessly lathi-charged the BJP karyakartas.
The brutality, however, did not stop at that. Tear gas were hurled at them and the karyakartas were even attacked with country-made bombs. The BJYM worker had also revealed that toxic chemicals were used against the BJP karyakartas. It is also claimed that several karyakartas have been hospitalised due to the chemical attack.
A West Bengal police officer was also caught on camera pulling down the turban of an on-duty Sikh security official while dragging, assaulting him. This incident had brought in a lot of embarrassment for Mamata Banerjee and her administration after social media widely outraged West Bengal police’s egregious display of brute force.
BJP on the receiving end in Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal
In fact, BJP workers have always been at the receiving end in Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal. Numerous workers of the BJP have been murdered, however, the state machinery appears utterly incapable of putting an end to the cycle of violence.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has urged devotees to send suggestions and ideas to develop a 70-acre campus around the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The trust said that the main structure and the temple design are based on the traditional Nagara style. Specialist consultants have designed it. However, the design does not cover the surrounding facilities of the temple. The trust has sought suggestions from the devotees for ideas to develop the entire area of around 70 acres in the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya.
यह सुझाव परिसर के विभिन्न आयामों जैसे धार्मिक यात्रा, संस्कृति, विज्ञान आदि को समाहित करते हुए होने चाहिए। इस से सम्बंधित सभी जानकारी ट्रस्ट की वेबसाइट https://t.co/E6JXRMlLKh पर उपलब्ध है। सुझावों को स्वीकार अथवा अस्वीकार करने का ट्रस्ट के निर्णय अंतिम होगा।
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) November 4, 2020
The trust said that the devotees could send suggestions and designs for facilities such as Pushkarni, Yagya Mandapam, Anushthan Mandapam, Kalyan Mandapam, and for the celebration of rituals like Ramjanmotsava, Hanuman Jayanti, Ramcharcha, Sita Vivaha. The designs should be based on Sthapatya Veda or Vaastu Shastra. As per the advertisement published on the website, the trust has also sought designs for a Gurukul that will have residential facilities for 51 students and their acharyas.
Call for design submissions by Ram Mandir Trust
There are existing historic sites on the campus, including Sita ki Rasoi, Nal Neel Tila, Angad Tila, and Kuber Tila. The trust has asked the devotees to provide designs keeping in mind that these sites should get integrated into the main structure and its surroundings.
Call for design submissions by Ram Mandir Trust
The design should accommodate over 5 lakh devotees on peak days
The trust expects to see over one lakh devotees every day and around five lakh devotees on the peak days. Thus, the design of the campus should be developed while keeping such a large footfall in mind. There will be Shri Ram Digital Library and Research Centre, a museum at the campus that will showcase the essence of Ramayana with a complete itinerary, an auditorium, and a convention center that can accommodate 1,000 to 5,000 persons.
Call for design submissions by Ram Mandir Trust
The trust is planning to build a mini theatre with audiovisual experience of Ramkatha and pilgrimage sites around Ayodhya. There will be a gaushala and residential facility for the trust recognized VIPs and priests inside the campus. While submitting the designs, the trust has requested the devotees to keep in mind that Mandir is constructed in accordance with the ancient and traditional construction techniques. The last date of submissions is 25th November 2020.
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) November 4, 2020
The construction started in August
In August, the trust issued a press release and announced that the construction for the Ram Mandir has begun. L&T is undertaking the construction. The trust has asked devotees across India to donate copper wires and 2″ copper rods for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
In a new twist in the Baba Ka Dhaba case, Swad Official’s Gaurav Wasan has alleged that he is being defamed and claimed that he has already transferred an amount of Rs 3.78 lakhs to the eatery owner.
The assertions from Wasan came after the 80-year-old owner of ‘Baba Ka Dhaba’, Kanta Prasad filed a complaint against the food vlogger, accusing him of misappropriation of funds. In his complaint, he alleged that he has received a cheque of Rs 2.33 lakhs from Mr Wasan and has no idea about the remaining amount.
Refuting the allegations of misappropriation of funds levelled against him, Gaurav, who had uploaded the video of the elderly couple struggling to make ends meet and asked people to donate for them, said, “False allegations are being levelled against me so as to defame me. They claim I received Rs 25 lakhs in my bank account, which is simply untrue.”
The food vlogger further added that if he indeed received the amount, it should reflect in his bank accounts and transactions, claiming that the amount he received for Baba Ka Dhaba has been transferred to its owner. When sought details of the exact amount he received from the fundraising for Baba ka Dhaba, Gaurav said he received around Rs 3.78 lakhs in donations, including the amount he received via PayTM.
Wasan says that he has given two cheques to Kanta Prasad, one of Rs 1 lakh and another one of Rs 2.33 lakhs. Besides, an amount of Rs 45,000 was transferred to Mr Prasad via PayTM, he claimed.
“I am being called thief. I am being accused of fraud and misappropriation of funds. People are pointing fingers at my family. This is not correct,” Wasan lamented.
YouTuber Lakshay Chaudhary uploads a video accusing Gaurav Wasan of misappropriation of funds
The controversy surrounding the serious allegations of misappropriation of funds alleged against Wasan came to the fore after Chaudhary uploaded a YouTube video in which he claimed that Gaurav Wasan, who ran an online campaign seeking monetary assistance for ‘Baba ka Dhaba’ did not transfer the collected amount to Kanta Prasad. He further added that Gaurav had asked people on his YouTube channel to contact him for helping Kanta Prasad and shared his personal bank accounts for donations, instead of providing Kanta Prasad’s bank details for people to contribute.
Even Kanta Prasad was seen in the video uploaded by Lakshay wherein he admitted that he had not received any donation online from Wasan.
“I have not received any donation online. I have received financial assistance in the form of cash. I have even received donation made by Amitabh Bachchan. But besides this, I have received no other online donations,” Prasad revealed to Chaudhary.
He further added, “I was being instructed by Gaurav to not share my bank details with anyone. Since the video went viral, I gave my mobile phone to Sushant. Gaurav has not given me any money, either in cash or online. Whatever he has collected, he is having it with him. Also, my bank account has been frozen.”
Gaurav Wasan responds to the allegations levelled in Lakshay Chaudhary’s video
Two days after YouTuber Lakshay Chaudhary and many others levelled serious allegations of fraud and embezzlement of funds against him, Swad Official’s Gaurav Wasan uploaded a video, presenting his side of the story and rubbishing the allegations as baseless and motivated.
In his video, Gaurav ran his viewers with the details of his ICICI bank passbook details, alleging that he has transferred all the amount he has received on behalf of Mr Prasad to the Baba Ka Dhaba owner. Gaurav mentioned in the video that he has so far collected Rs 3.35 lakhs through the fundraising campaign, and this amount was provided to Baba in the form of a bank cheque. However, he acknowledged that he was late in transferring the amount to Baba.
After being untraceable for days, Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone’s manager and now an ex-employee of KWAN Talent Agency- Karishma Prakash, appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau on Wednesday. Karishma had been issued summons twice by the NCB after it seized 1.7 gm of hashish during a raid at her residence.
NCB, which reportedly grilled Prakash for two hours now has said that it is not satisfied with her answers. According to CNNNews18, the department quizzed the KWAN employee about her whereabouts and her association with two drug peddlers who have been arrested by the Narcotics department. She has allegedly denied knowing both of them, although the department had claimed that her name had cropped up during the questioning of these two drug peddlers.
#BREAKING | Deepika’s manager Karishma Prakash quizzed by NCB.
Moreover, Karishma Prakash has claimed innocence for the charas (cannabis) and three vials of CBD oil, which was retrieved from her house during raids by NCB. She told the department officials that it did not belong to her. The NCB is reportedly grilling Deepika Padukone’s manager regarding some new findings in the drugs case.
Fearing arrest, Karishma Prakash had applied for anticipatory bail, after which the special court gave her interim relief till November 7, which means that she can’t be arrested till November 7.
Karishma Prakash termed ‘untraceable’ by NCB
It is pertinent to note that Deepika Padukone’s manager Karishma Prakash was termed ‘untraceable’ after she failed to appear before the NCB or reply to the two summons issued to her. Post her failure to appear, the NCB had handed over the summons to her mothers and employees of KWAN Talent Agency.
Karishma was summoned on October 27 for questioning in the drug angle that came to fore in the investigation of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. On the same day, the NCB officials had conducted a raid at Karishma’s residence and retrieved charas (cannabis) and three vials of CBD oil during the search. The officials even pasted the copy of the summons on the door of her house. However, neither she was found at her house nor did she respond to the summons.
Deepika Padukone’s manager resigns from KWAN Talent Management Company
We reported yesterday that Karishma Prakash has resigned from her position at KWAN Talent Management Company. The source confirmed that she has resigned from her position on October 21, 2020. Speaking about the resignation, a source close to the talent agency said: “Her association with Deepika and few other actors was only as a KWAN employee. So naturally, those associations would also be severed.”
The Mumbai police had today picked up Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami from his house in relation to a 2018 abetment to suicide case which was already closed by the police. The investigation in the case has been reopened by Alibaug police on the directions of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
Adnya Naik had complained to me that #AlibaugPolice had not investigated non-payment of dues from #ArnabGoswami‘s @republic which drove her entrepreneur father & grandmom to suicide in May 2018. I’ve ordered a CID re-investigation of the case.#MaharashtraGovernmentCares
Deshmukh said on Twitter that deceased interior designer Anvay Naik’s daughter Adnya Naik told him that the Alibaug police did not investigate the non-payment of dues by Republic TV to her father which eventually led her father and grandmother to commit suicide. He said that he has ordered the re-investigation of the case by the CID.
Republic TV Press Release
Republic TV has issued a statement claiming that ARG Outlier media Pvt Ltd, the firm that owns and operates Republic TV, had paid 90 percent of the dues to deceased Anvay Naik’s company Concorde Designs Pvt. Ltd. (CDPL) over two years ago and that the remaining amount was to be paid on the completion of the pending work that has not been undertaken ever since. The statement further said ARG Outlier media Pvt Ltd made several attempts for complete and final settlement of all claims but the absence of shareholders or directors in CDPL rendered the attempts unsuccessful.
Republic TV Statement
It further said that no concrete response was received by ARG Outlier media Pvt Ltd from Adnya Naik and Akshata Naik, wife of Anvay Naik, despite making several attempts to reach out to CDPL to ensure full and final payment. The statement said that Akshata Naik wanted ARG Outlier media Pvt Ltd to make all the due payments to third party vendors but ARG Outlier media Pvt Ltd ha contractual obligations to make due payments only to CDPL and not third party vendors.
Republic TV, in its statement, said that Goswami’s arrest in the closed suicide case is a “motivated, malice-ridden and vindictive attempt to punish Republic Media Network for speaking truth to power”.
The 2018 Abetment to Suicide Case
An FIR was filed against Arnab Goswami in 2018 in an alleged abetment to suicide case. An interior designer named Anvay Naik had committed suicide in his bungalow in Alibaug naming Goswami, and 2 other persons in his suicide note over some alleged non-payment of dues. Naik wrote that two persons named Feroz Shaikh and Niteish Sarda owed him Rs 5.4 crore. It was alleged that Goswami had not paid Naik Rs 83 lakh for a design project of a studio. The case was closed by the court after a closure report was filed by the police.
On Wednesday, Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami was assaulted by AK-47 wielding Mumbai police personnel and arrested from his residence in Mumbai in connection with a 2018 suicide case.
In a shocking act, the Mumbai Police barged into the residence of Arnab Goswami and not only tried to forcefully arrest the Republic TV chief but also physically attacked his family, including his minor son and elderly in-laws.
Reportedly, more than 30-40 Mumbai Police personnel, in an act of intimidation had carried armaments such as AK-47 as they dragged and pulled Arnab Goswami by the hair to pick him in a police van to detain at Raigad police station.
A video has gone viral on the internet that shows the brazen high-handedness of the Mumbai Police, who not only threatened Arnab Goswami and his family but also assaulted his family as they forcefully picked him to arrest in a 2018 case.
Here is a video which shows how Mumbai Police arbitrary arrests and assaults him at his residence in Mumbai.
In the video, one can see, how Mumbai Police are shouting, “Please come out”, asking Arnab Goswami to come out of his residence. As Arnab Goswami opens the door, the police officers kick it and rush inside to hold Arnab Goswami by his back to push him.
The Mumbai Police, who forcefully pushes Arnab Goswami then says, “With legal capacity, we are inside. Why are you closing the door.” as they tried to drag him before Arnab managed to sit down.
“Are you coming with us? I am DYSP. I am here to arrest you. You have to co-operate with me. We are taking him to Raigad, Alibaug,” says one police officer who identifies himself as Pravin Patil.
A lady officer can be seen confronting the wife of Arnab Goswami and forcing her to sign some papers.
Senior Editor Samyabrata Ray Goswami, wife of Arnab Goswami was also held by the police officers and then told to sign some papers. The Mumbai Police also forcefully tries to block her from recording the video. The Mumbai Police can also be seen snatching papers from Samayabrata’s hands and were heard saying, “You just have to sign it”.
“I am the Editor of Republic TV, you have physically assaulted me, is this correct? Sachin, you tell me. I will co-operate but I won’t accept physical assault. I will seek advice of my lawyers. Maintain social distancing,” Goswami said.
Interestingly, one of the cops, who was seen warning Arnab Goswami was not wearing an official uniform, was confronted by Samyabrata Goswami, who questioned the lack of a tag on the DYSP. “He doesn’t even have a tag. We don’t know if he is a legit police officer,” she asked.
In the video, Arnab Goswami can be seen saying, “my son was beaten-up”. In the video, two elderly people can be seen urging Mumbai Police with folded hands requesting them to give a proper explanation before the arrest.
After a series of warning by Mumbai Police to Arnab Goswami asking him to simply fall-in-line, the Mumbai Police then forcefully drags him out of his residence and makes an arrest.
Arnab Goswami pulled by belt, beaten on spine
The Republic TV Chief Arnab Goswami was dragged by his belt by Mumbai Police and beaten up on his spine causing him some injuries. The lawyer who visited the Alibag Police Station along with Arnab Goswami said that he has suffered an injury after being heckled by the Police.
Arnab’s lawyer said, “Family members were pushed, his house was cordoned off for three hours. He has an abrasion on his left hand, he already had an existing injury in his hand which was tried to tear apart. His arrest was not informed to his wife but his arrest punchnama says she was informed. He was pulled by his belt and was beaten on the back of his spine. He appeals to citizens of India to support him.”
Earlier, as Arnab was being manhandled and pushed into a police van, by the armed police officers, he said, “They hit me. They physically assaulted me. I want to tell the people of India to fight for us.”
Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami arrested
Continuing their witch-hunt against Republic TV chief, the Mumbai Police on Wednesday arrested Arnab Goswami. The Mumbai Police reached Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami’s residence on Wednesday and physically manhandled him as they tried to detain him in a 2018 abetment to suicide case that was already closed.
A team of Mumbai Police arrested Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami after they physically assaulted and dragged him by grabbing his hair. In a shocking act, a large contingent of Mumbai Police was seen present at Goswami’s residence on Wednesday morning. In the below video, it can be seen how officials of the Mumbai Police were manhandling the Republic TV chief.
In May 2018, an FIR was filed against Arnab Goswami after an interior designer had committed suicide in Mumbai. In a suicide note, Anvay Naik claimed Goswami owed him a total of Rs 5.4 crore. However, Goswami was investigated and case was closed by court after a closure report was filed by the Police.
Vejalpur Police has registered FIR against seven people, including Congress Councillor of Amdavad Municipal Corporation, Hajibhai, for pasting posters of French President Emmanuel Macron on the roads in the Juhapura area of Ahmedabad. As per the reports, the posters were pasted on the road on 1st November amid protests by Muslims against France for Macron’s strong stand against radical Islam.
The case has been registered under IPC Sections 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), and 120BB (criminal conspiracy), The Disaster Management Section 54, Damage To Public Property Act Section 3 And 4, and The Press And Registration Of Book Act Section 3.
Surveillance squad head constable Jogabhai Karmanbhai filed a complaint on 1st November that at around 12:30 PM, some persons pasted 150 posters of French President Macron with a print of shoe on his face on the public roads. He mentioned in the complaint that the miscreants want to provoke religious sentiments of the Muslims in the area and cause a disturbance.
50-year-old Yunus Sabarhussain Kadri, 46-year-old Najmaben wife of Karim Muzaffarbhai Kureshi, 54-year-old Mohammad Yunus, 36-year-old Musakim Abdulkadar Master, 59-year-old Haji Asrarbaig Abdulshakur Mirza, 45-year-old Mohammadsalim Hussain Sheikh and 48-year-old Abdulhamid Mohammadhanif Sheikh along with the owner of the printing press and around 10-15 other people were behind the act.
Similar posters were seen in Raopura, Nawabwada in Vadodara where three people were detained and Bhindi Bazaar, Mumbai.
Boycott France posters surface in Muslims populated areas of Raopura, Nawabwada in Vadodara. A knife-wielding terrorist shouting “Allahu Akbar” beheaded a woman and killed two others at a Church in Southern France this week. French President has termed it as act of Islamic terror pic.twitter.com/1prYAALsLj
भारत फ़्रान्स के साथ खड़ा है और मुंबई के भिंडी बाज़ार में फ़्रान्स के राष्ट्रपति के पोस्टर सड़क पर चिपका कर उनका अपमान किया जा रहा है …!! pic.twitter.com/KIq4ono0rC
India has shown support for France in the fight against radical Islam. However, Islamic nations have called for a boycott of France and French products. Pakistan and Turkey have released statements against French President Macron and condemned his actions and speeches against Islam and Muslims. Islamic leaders have vehemently opposed his support for press freedom that allowed Charlie Hebdo to publish cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.
Attacks in Europe
France and other European nations have faced several attacks in the past few weeks allegedly for actions against radical Islam. What started with the beheading of Samuel Paty, a teacher from France who was killed for showing Prophet Muhammad’s cartoon in his class, three people were reportedly beheaded in Nice, and an attack took place in Austria in which three people were killed, and several were injured. France and closed its embassies in several locations worldwide to avoid any further attacks on French people living in foreign countries.
