Arnab Goswami's arrest in an Anvay suicide case is illegal, observers say

Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republican TV, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of inciting an interior designer and his mother to commit suicide two years ago. He and two other accused were produced in Alibag court this afternoon. However, while dismissing the police custody application, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of the court observed that the arrest of Arnab Goswami and others in connection with the suicide of 53-year-old interior designer Anvay and his mother Kumud Naik was illegal. Alibag court orders 14-day judicial custody of Arnab Goswami

Anvay and his mother Kumud Naik committed suicide two years ago

In May 2018, a year after the launch of Republic TV, Naik and his mother were found dead at a farm in Kabir village in Alibag taluk. Anbhaya's wife filed a complaint of 48-year-old incapacity. A suicide note was also recovered. Police said the suicide note brought unsubstantiated allegations that he and his mother were forced to end their lives. Because Arnav Goswami, Firoz Sheikh and Nitesh Sardar received Rs 5.40 crore. But it was not given to him. Alibag police on Wednesday arrested Goswami, Elcast / Iskimidia chief Firoz Sheikh and Smartworks chief Nitesh Sarada. Prosecution lawyers have asked the court for their police custody due to further investigation. But this verdict was rejected by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alibag, Sunaina S. Pingal of Raigarh.

Not police custody, The Chief Judicial Order said, "In view of the objections raised by the government lawyers and the allegations raised by the prosecution for taking into police custody, I will say that this arrest is inherently illegal." Evidence and documents before the court in connection with the deaths of the two men suggest that the accused's relationship with the dead should have been investigated before police sought custody. If this situation exists, then the accused can be taken into police custody and his connection with the deceased can be established.

Confusion over mother's suicide

The magistrate's court has raised serious questions about Naik's mother's suicide theory. The court questioned that if the prosecution's case was found to be true, no motive was found for the mother's suicide.

The court said, "Even if it is accepted that the deceased Anvay Naik received money from the accused and other contractors came and sued Anvay, Anvay will suffer from depression. The question is why did his mother Kumud Naik decide to end his life?" Opposition lawyers could not provide a satisfactory answer. Prosecutors have failed to prove the connection between the deaths of Anbhaya and Kumud, the cause of their deaths and their relationship with the accused.

The court questioned the investigation

The court has also questioned the decision of further investigation. The court said that the prosecutor could not give a proper answer as to why the previous investigation was incomplete and the lawyer of the unscrupulous party could not inform the court about the other issues for further investigation.