Republic Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami Moves Supreme Court Seeking Quashing Of 16 FIRs Filed Against Him By Congress  

Republic TV’s founding editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami moved the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking a stay on the FIRs registered against him in or quashing of FIRs against him in Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan, MP, J&K, Telangana for criticising Congress President Sonia Gandhi for recent Palghar lynching where three sadhus were killed. Live Law reported.

A bench comprising of justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah will hear the case on Friday (Apr 24).

Goswami has prayed that no coercive measures should be taken on FIRs registered against him in the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

As many as 16 FIRs had been filed against Goswami for alleged ‘hate speeches'and for ‘defamation’ of Congress president Sonia Gandhi,

Goswami had also lodged an FIR against men on motorcycles who allegedly attacked his car.

He has submitted that action against him is an attempt to curb free speech and the Freedom of the Press under Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution.

Earlier this month, Goswami and his wife were attacked by two Congress workers while they were driving back home from their studios. Goswami has filed a police complaint, while more details are awaited on the matter.

The Mumbai police arrested two members of the Mumbai chapter of the Indian Youth Congress for allegedly attacking Goswami. The accused have been identified as Prateek Mishra and Arun Borade, both office bearers of the Youth Congress in the Sion-Koliwada Assembly constituency. Mishra is the general secretary of the Sion-Koliwada Youth Congress and Borade is the president.