SC grants interim bail to Arnab, 2 others

STATE TIMES NEWS

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to journalist Arnab Goswami in the 2018 abetment to suicide case, saying it will be a “travesty of justice” if personal liberty is curtailed. The apex court also expressed concern over state governments targeting some individuals on the basis of ideology and difference of opinion. A vacation bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee said if state governments target individuals, they must realise then that there is apex court to protect the liberty of citizens. The top court granted interim bail to two others in the case — Neetish Sarda and Feroz Mohammad Shaikh — on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each and directed that they shall not tamper with the evidence and shall cooperate in the probe The bench said that the Bombay High Court was in error in rejecting the pleas filed by Goswami and these two persons seeking interim bail in the case. We are of the considered view that the high court was in error in rejecting the applications for the grant of interim bail. We accordingly order and direct that Arnab Manoranjan Goswami, Feroz Mohammad Shaikh and Neetish Sarda shall be released on interim bail, subject to each of them executing a personal bond in the amount of Rs 50,000 to be executed before the Jail Superintendent, the bench said in its order. They are, however, directed to cooperate in the investigation and shall not make any attempt to interfere with the ongoing investigation or with the witnesses. The concerned jail authorities and the Superintendent of Police, Raigad are directed to ensure that this order is complied with forthwith, it said. The bench said that submissions of the lawyers appearing in the matter before it would be evaluated in the judgment for which reasons shall follow. The judgment is reserved. The apex court was hearing the appeals against the high court’s November 9 order rejecting the pleas, including that of Goswami, for grant of interim bail.