Supreme Court grants interim bail to Arnab Goswami

Nov. 11: In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Arnab Goswami who was arrested in abetment to suicide case on November 4. The apex court ordered release of Arnab Goswami and other co-accused on interim bail on a bond of Rs 50,000 each.

A vacation bench of Justices Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee made the observations while hearing Goswami’s plea challenging the Bombay HC order. After hearing all the arguments, the bench said High Court was in error in rejecting the application for grant of interim bail.

On November 9, the HC bench of Justices S S Shinde and M S Karnik had denied bail to Goswami. The case pertains to the death of Anvay Naik, managing director of Concorde Designs Private Limited, in 2018. A suicide note by Naik accused Goswami and two others – Feroz Shaikh and Niteish Sarda – of not paying dues worth Rs 5.40 crore. Naik and his mother Kumud Naik were found dead in their home in Kavir village of Alibaug.

Justice D Y Chandrachud said. “If this court were not to interfere today, we are travelling on a path of destruction of personal liberty undeniably…Don’t watch the channel of you don’t like… Left to myself I will not watch… If state govt’s target individuals in this manner, let’s send out a message that Supreme Court is there.”