The Bombay High Court on Thursday refused to grant interim relief to Republic TV promoter Arnab Goswami in connection with his arrest on Wednesday.
The Republic TV editor-in-chief was arrested by Mumbai police in connection with the suicide of an architect and his mother in 2018.
Saying it wants to hear the matter “in detail”, a two-member bench of the court denied Goswami’s plea, and has listed the matter for 3 PM on Friday, ND TV reported.
Goswami had moved the court to quash the case against him.
However, the high court said it was not inclined to grant any relief unless notices were issued to the respondents and they were given a chance to respond.
“Can’t pass interim order without hearing Complaint and State,” a bench comprising Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik said.
Senior lawyer Harish Salve, appearing for Goswami, argued there were several cases against the journalist by virtue of his profession and asked: “Please release this man as an ad-interim measure and hear the case in detail later. Will heavens fall in Maharashtra if he is released on interim bail?”
Another senior lawyer representing Goswami, Abad Ponda, argued that the investigation into this case was “illegal” and showed “scant respect” for the Magistrate who closed the investigation.
The court on Wednesday sent Goswami to 14-day- judicial custody, while dismissing a similar demand from Mumbai Police.
The court also dismissed Goswami’s charge that he had been physically assaulted while being arrested, an allegation he made several times in the day.