Arnab Goswami sent in judicial custody for 14 days in 2018 abetment to suicide case

Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and two other accused have been sent in judicial custody till November 18 in a 2018 abetment to suicide case by a court at Alibaug in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Wednesday evening. The police had sought Goswami's custody for 14 days, but the court held that custodial interrogation was not required. 

After the court remanded Goswami in judicial custody, his lawyers Aabad Ponda and Gaurav Parkar filed an application seeking bail. "The court asked the police to file their reply and posted it for hearing tomorrow," advocate Ponda said.

Goswami spent the night in jail as the proceedings went on till late, he added. The veteran journalist was arrested yesterday morning from his Lower Parel residence in Mumbai and taken to Alibaug police station. He has been booked under section 306 (abetment of suicide) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC in connection with the suicide of architect-interior designer Anvay Naik and Naik's mother over alleged non-payment of dues by Republic TV in 2018. 

Goswami was produced in the afternoon before the Alibaug Magistrate's court, where he and his lawyer Gaurav Parkar alleged that Goswami was assaulted by the police. The court then directed Goswami to be taken for medical check-up at the civil hospital. He was brought back to court later in the evening. 

The court, after perusing the medical report, noted in the order that the allegations of physical assault were incorrect and there were only minor scratches on the accused's hand. The Alibaug police sought 14 days' custody of Goswami for interrogation. 

Besides Goswami, the other two arrested accused in the case are Feroze Mohammed Shaikh and Nitesh Sarda. They were also produced in court and remanded to judicial custody till November 18. 

"The probe in the case after it was reopened began on October 15 during which the statements of the deceased person Anvay Naik's wife and daughter were recorded before a magistrate," the police said in its remand application.