The Rajasthan High Court has granted interim relief to Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, by restraining the Rajasthan police from taking any coercive measures in a criminal case filed against him in 2022. This case pertains to the channel’s reporting on the demolition of a Hindu temple in Rajgarh, Alwar district.
Justice Farjand Ali stated the interim order will remain in effect until Goswami’s plea challenging the registration of the criminal case is resolved. The judge found that the allegations under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with promoting enmity between different religious communities, do not appear substantiated against Goswami.
Stressing on the lack of crucial evidence such as statements made by Goswami specifically, Justice Ali noted the FIR doesn’t mention any offence under the IPC section.
The judge expressed concerns that the ongoing investigation may represent an effort to suppress journalistic freedom. He indicated that the lack of evidence suggests an unwarranted attempt to burden Goswami with legal challenges.
Accordingly, the court ruled that no coercive measures should be taken against Goswami in relation to FIR No. 276/2022 filed at the Ambamata Police Station in Udaipur, until a decision is made on the main petition.
Earlier, Justice Dinesh Mehta had provided Goswami with a more limited form of interim protection, which had been periodically extended. The recent ruling enhances this protection until a final determination is reached regarding his plea.
The FIR against Goswami was registered on May 17, 2022, following a complaint from Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, who objected to certain news broadcasts by Republic Bharat, the Hindi channel of the network. The broadcasts in question addressed the demolition of a temple and related issues in Alwar.
In his plea, Goswami argued that the FIR was politically motivated, intended to entangle Republic TV in unnecessary legal woes. He claimed that the broadcasts aimed to promote communal harmony rather than disrupt it, citing coverage of a Muslim group’s complaint against a Congress official for inciting disharmony.
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