In his plea through advocate Pragya Baghel, Arnab Goswami had challenged the FIRs & had also sought protection from any coercive action.
Mumbai| The SC on Friday gave Republic TV founder Arnab Goswami interim relief from arrest for two weeks after over 100 FIRs were filed against him in a few states over his comments on his TV show.
The controversial show was associated with the Palghar lynching case and against Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.
A bench that was hearing the plea via video-conferencing comprised of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah. The bench put a stay on all the FIRs, barring the one which was filed in Nagpur.
“No coercive actions will be taken against Goswami for two weeks,” the Supreme Court declared.
Appearing for the popular TV news anchor, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi criticized the “frivolous complaints against his client” and said the FIRs were an attempt to suppress the press. “There can’t be multiple FIRs with the same cause of action,” he told the court.
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Referring to the television debate on the Palghar lynching case, Rohatgi said, “When there is a political debate, there will be provocative questions. If sadhus have been killed and there is a turmoil within the Hindu community, then why are you not raising any questions? This is the nature of the dispute.”
The Supreme Court transferred the FIR registered in Nagpur to Mumbai and the probe on the same will be carried out along with the inquiry on the complaint filed by Goswami concerning the attack made against him. Proceedings on all other FIRs in various States shall remain stayed.
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