Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami who was recently arrested by the Mumbai Police; was granted arrest shield by the Supreme Court in the Maharashtra Assembly’s privilege case.
A contempt notice was issued by the top court to the Maharashtra Assembly’s Assistant Secretary who, through a letter questioned him for moving to the Apex Court against the breach of privilege notice.
The Court stated that the intention of the Assistant Secretary seemed to be “intimidating” for moving to the Apex Court and also threatened him with a penalty for approaching the Supreme Court for legal remedy. On the request from the Senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Goswami, Union of India was allowed to be impleaded and a notice was sent to Attorney General. Senior Advocate Arvind Datar was appointed as the amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter.
Salve also added that the senior journalist was being intimidated and threatened and the statements of Mr. Vilas Athawale, the Assistant Secretary are unprecedented and tend to interfere in the course of administration of justice.
The Bench of Hon’ble CJI SA Bobde, Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramaniandirected that until the further orders, Arnab cannot be arrested in the privilege case. The Court also ordered the Assistant Secretary to appear in person on the next date of hearing.
