New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday gave three weeks protection from arrest to Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami in connection with FIRs filed against him for his alleged defamatory statements made during the news shows on recent Palghar mob-lynching and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
“I am averse to imposing restrictions on media,” said Justice D Y Chandrachud.
The case will be transferred to Mumbai from Nagpur. All probe in all other cases and complaints has been stayed. There will be no investigation into fresh FIRs arising out of the April 21 show. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who is representing Arnab, has been asked to club all FIRs and complaints, and bring them on record.
FIRs have been registered against the journalist in Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The apex court also ordered the Mumbai police to provide protection to Arnab and his office after the midnight attack on him while returning home from office.
Arnab had blamed youth Congress workers for the attack.
