Mumbai Police: Bond of good behaviour for Arnab Goswami

Mumbai: A show-cause notice has been issued by Mumbai Police to Arnab Goswami, the Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV. The notice, which was issued on Tuesday was over his alleged communal comments while covering the Palghar lynching case and Bandra migrants' incident in April.

Under section 108 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the notice asks Goswami to give reasons as to why a bond of good behaviour should not be taken from him. An official said that Goswami has been asked to appear before the Special Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Worli Division at 4 pm on Friday.

A debate show, "Puchhta Hain Bharat" on Republic Bharat was conducted by Goswami on April 21. The debate was about the attack on the two monks and their driver in Maharashtra's Palghar. The notice said that, in the show, Goswami asked whether it was a crime to be a Hindu and wear saffron clothes and whether people would have remained silent if the victims were not Hindus.

A case against the relevant sections of IPC has been registered for "giving provocation to cause a riot" and "promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion." The show has evoked strong reactions on YouTube, the notice said.

The comments of Goswami poses a threat to communal integrity and law and order, therefore, the police have now started the process of undertaking for good behaviour from Goswami. A bond of Rs. 10 lakh will be taken from Goswami for a year, with one guarantor "who is well-known in the society and can control his behaviour."

Prior to Palghar incident, Goswami has also allegedly made provocative comments regarding a crowd of migrant labourers gathered outside the Bandra Railway Station during the nationwide lockdown. A case was registered against him in this case too.

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