Defamation Case: Supreme court stops coercive action against Arnab Goswami for next three weeks, stays all FIRs except one
New Delhi/IBNS: In a relief to Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, the Supreme Court on Friday granted him protection from coercive action for the next three weeks in various cases filed against him over his remarks on Republic TV and Republic Bharat shows in relation to Maharashtra's Palghar-lynching incident, said media reports.
The bench of justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah, which heard the case through video conferencing, also stayed all the FIRs filed against Goswami on the same issue except the one lodged at Sadar Police Station in Nagpur and transferred it to Mumbai where it will be investigated, the reports said.
The court said Goswami can use the time to apply for anticipatory bail.
In addition, the Supreme Court bench also issued notices to the Centre, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and union territory of Jammu and Kashmir where cases have been filed against Goswami over the matter.
The bench also ordered Mumbai Police Commissioner to provide protection to Goswami and Republic TV office.
Arnab Goswami had moved the Supreme Court late on Thursday seeking an immediate hearing, citing "extremely urgent circumstance" since the court is convening to hear only extremely urgent matters in the lockdown period.
Goswami, represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, justified the "extremely urgent" situation as several FIRs were lodged against him by Congress members and in states ruled by Congress party or its allies, said reports.
He said he had “reasonable and tangible grounds to believe that other FIRs will also be registered at the behest of the Indian National Congress members in gross violation of his fundamental rights”, said a Hindu report. The court said no action would be taken on future complaints made in this regard, the report added.
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