The sudden arrest of Arnab Goswami, Republic TV Editor-in-Chief, has opened up an interesting debate: Is it selective outrage or selective target, or both. A short recap: On May 5, 2018 architect and interior designer Anvay Naik was found handing at his farmhouse in Alibaug, Maharashtra. He left behind a suicide note that attributed his death to Arnab Goswami, and two others claiming that they did not pay his dues of Rs 5.4 crore. Two-and-a half years later, the long hands of law once again reach Arnab as he was arrested from his Mumbai residence on Wednesday.
Firstly, the arrest of Arnab is not over his brand of journalism or has nothing to do with the screaming, debating and story-telling he does on TV. He has been arrested in a personal case and has been booked under IPC Sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 34 (acts of persons in furtherance of common intention). Hence, the talk of an attack on media smacks of a personal bias for him or the channel he operates. Journalists across the world, no matter the larger-than-life persona and character they portray and influences they have in the high society, cannot stand above the law.
Interestingly, Arnab's arrest drew outrage from strange quarters, and the political class of BJP went agog, calling it an attack on individual liberties and the free press. Senior Union ministers Amit Shah, Smriti Irani, Prakash Javadekar and other seasoned BJP functionaries expressed indignation unheard against any other attack or arrest on journalists. Some termed it as "blatant misuse of state power" and reminiscent of the Emergency. But picture this. Recently, there were 55 journalists across the country booked, arrested, and even threatened for reporting on Covid-19, and yet, not a word has been spoken by any political leaders on suppression of free media.
The BJP has no moral right to lecture on free speech when they have viciously targetted journalists and intellectuals across the nation, including Goa-based Dr Anand Teltumbde for raising voices against Hindutva. Dr Teltumbde was labelled as an urban Naxal and was linked to the Bhim Koregaon violence. Let's not forget the several other journalists who have been harassed and silenced. BJP's hypocrisy certainly lay exposed here.
Beyond the political slugfest, the one point that stands out and brings intrigue into the case is whether there is any new piece of evidence against Arnab. It would be interesting to know what changed between 2018 when the suicide took place and now. Lest we forget, the case was closed in April 2019 for lack of evidence. It was the rule of the BJP-Sena alliance then. Has the same police under the new Cong-Sena regime found new evidence? Or are political parties trying to settle scores making selective targets?
The Arnab Goswami arrest is by no means an attack on the media, but there are reasons to ponder. The fairness of probe in 2018 remains a question, as much as the decision behind reopening the case. This is turning out to be a political whirlpool.
