Raigad: Republic TV network editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and his co-accused in abetment of suicide case failed to appear before a court in Raigad district of Maharashtra on Thursday, prompting the prosecution to seek a warrant against them. The court, however, granted him and other two accused exemption from appearance for the day and adjourned the hearing.
"Arnab Goswami and his co-accused were ordered to appear in court on the first day. However, all three did not show up today. In this regard, we have applied to the court to issue an arrest warrant for the accused. A hearing is now scheduled for February 6 on whether to issue a warrant, whether the accused should be present or not," the prosecution said.
Alibaug Police had arrested Goswami and two others in the case related to interior designer Anvay Naik''s alleged suicide in November. They were later granted bail by the Supreme Court.
On Thursday, as the case came up before Alibaug sessions court, Goswami and other two accused -- Firoze Sheikh and Nitish Sarda -- did not appear.
Arnab Goswami's lawyers had argued that the accused was in Delhi and could not be present due to the Corona rule and had requested the court to allow all the three accused to be absent today. Their lawyers sought an exemption for the day, which the court granted.
Special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat took a strong exception, saying the accused should have been present for the purpose of identification as this was the first hearing after the court took cognizance of the charge sheet.
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He also sought the issuance of a warrant against Goswami and the other two.
Raigad police had on December 4 filed a charge sheet against Alibag Magistrate Sunaina Pingale in the Naik suicide case. The trial was all set to begin on January 7. Arnab Goswami, Feroze Sheikh and Nitesh Sarda were ordered to appear before the court in the case. However, all the three accused remained absent in the court today.
The court posted the case for hearing on February 6.
On that date, the accused will have to appear before the court, Gharat told reporters.
"In normal circumstances, if an accused fails to respond to the summons issued by a court and fails to appear before it on the given date, the court can issue a warrant.
"If on the next date too the accused does not appear then a non-bailable warrant is issued," the prosecutor said.
It is the court''s discretion, he said.
The trio are facing a case under IPC sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 109 (punishment for abetment).
The charge sheet claims that Naik killed his mother, a partner in his business, and hanged himself at their Alibaug house in May 2018 as he was under stress due to non-payment of dues by the firms of the three accused.
Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV, alleged that the police reopened a case which had been closed in 2019 as the Maharashtra government wanted to harass him.
READ: Bombay HC refuses interim bail to Arnab Goswami
With PTI inputs
