SC gives Arnab Goswami 3-week protection from coercive action in Cong FIRs

The Supreme Court Friday said the police for three weeks cannot take action against TV journalist Arnab Goswami after the Congress party filed multiple complaints against him for allegedly defaming Sonia Gandhi in his news shows about the mob killing of two sadhus in Maharashtra’s Palghar.

A bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah, in a hearing conducted through video conferencing, took note of the submissions of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and said that Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV, shall be protected against any coercive steps for the telecast of the alleged defamatory news programmes aired on the news channels.

It also said that Goswami can file anticipatory bail plea in connection with the FIRs after three weeks and he should cooperate with the investigating agency.