Bombay HC reserves order on Arnab Goswami's interim bail plea

While hearing the plea by Goswami and the other accused in the 2018 case, Justices Shinde and Karnik had informed the lawyers that if the arguments on interim relief were not completed on Saturday, the bench wouldn't hold a sitting on Sunday.

They said that if the arguments weren't finished, they would instead post the case for further hearing on November 23 after vacations.

During the hearing, senior advocate Harish Salve, who was appearing for Goswami, requested the bench for ad-interim relief to the Republic TV Managing Director and Chief Editor, who was arrested on November 4.

However, the division bench refused to pass an immediate order for interim bail. It said that it would pass an order at the earliest but did not give any date.

The high court has, however, allowed Goswami to approach a lower court to apply for a bail petition, saying he can invoke a bail under Section 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for interim relief.

The court said he can seek bail from the sessions court, also ordering that the sessions court must decide within four days on the same, if approached.

Justice Shinde turned down Salve's requests for ad-interim relief to Goswami, saying, "We can't pass order today."

The court stated, "We will pass the order at the earliest," adding, "Meanwhile we will clarify that pendency of the petition will not bar the petitioner from approaching the sessions court for bail and if such an application is filed, it should be decided within 4 days."

On November 4, Goswami was arrested by the Maharashtra Police and sent to 14-day judicial custody.

He was arrested in connection with a case registered for the suicide of architect-interior designer, Anvay Naik, and his mother, Kumud Naik.

The mother-son duo had reportedly ended their lives in 2018 over the alleged non-payment of dues by the companies belonging to the accused in the case.