FIR against Arnab Goswami in Anvay Naik suicide case: Magistrate takes cognisance of chargesheet

The judicial magistrate at Alibaug on Wednesday took cognizance of the chargesheet filed by Raigad police against Republic TV anchor Arnab Goswami and two other accused in the 2018 Anvay Naik abetment to suicide case.

This fact was informed to the Bombay High Court by Senior Advocate Abad Ponda, Goswami's lawyer.

Ponda was appearing in the petition filed by Goswami seeking to restrain the magistrate from taking cognizance of the chargesheet. While the arguments were progressing before a bench comprising Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik, Ponda informed the bench that he got a message that the Magistrate has taken cognizance of the chargesheet.

The bench recorded that cognizance has been taken on the chargesheet. Also, allowing Ponda's request, the bench directed the Magistrate to expedite the grant of copy of the chargesheet and the case documents on a formal application made by Goswami through his advocate.

The bench then adjourned the hearing till January 6.

Raigad Police had filed a 1,914 pages long charge sheet against Goswami and two others on December 4 before a court in Alibaug in neighbouring Raigad district, where the case for alleged abetment of suicide of interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud has been registered. The trio has been charged under IPC sections 306 (abetment to suicide), 109 (punishment for abetment) and 34 (act done by several people in furtherance of common intention).

Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud committed suicide in 2018, allegedly because of non-payment of dues by firms of Goswami and other two accused.