Arnab Goswami Arrest! | Explained by Dhruv Rathee

After the Bombay high court posted the hearing of Republic Television editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami’s interim bail plea to Friday, the 47-year-old journalist spent another night at Alibag Nagar Parishad School, designated as a Covid-19 center of the prison. Before shifting him to the main jail, in case his bail plea is not granted, he will be tested for Covid-19. Goswami was arrested on Wednesday from his Lower Parel house in Mumbai and was then taken to Alibag in connection with a 2018 case of abetment to suicide. Designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud Naik died of suicide and named Goswami as one of the three people who didn’t pay dues amounting to Rs 5.4 crore.

The HC bench of Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik, which refused to give any interim relief to the Republic TV managing director, will consider the prayer for the interim order for release at 3 pm on Friday. Notably, November 6 is the last day before the court's vacation begins. While hearing the matter, Justice Shinde said the bench will hear both sides and pass an appropriate order on Friday.

"We have to hear all the parties concerned before considering the interim relief sought. We have to also hear the complainant as the family of the deceased has filed a petition here seeking transfer of the probe," the bench said.

"The respondents (the Maharashtra government and the complainant) are entitled to respond...We will consider the interim relief sought tomorrow (Friday)," the court said.

Goswami was arrested on November 4 morning from his Mumbai residence and sent to 14-day judicial custody. A request for police custody was turned down by the court.