Srinagar District Magistrate Court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Republic TV chief, Arnab Goswami in a defamation case filed by PDP MLA Naeem Akhtar. The non-bailable warrant comes after Arnab Goswami’s plea to exempt him from personal appearance was rejected by the Court.

On 28th December 2017, Arnab Goswami was directed to appear before the Srinagar magistrate in a defamation case filed by the PDP leader, Naeem Akhtar. Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar had directed the managing director of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami, to appear before the court in connection with the criminal defamation case filed by former minister and senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar.

Naeem Akhtar had filed a criminal defamation case against Arnab Goswami for broadcasting “scandalous” content against him.

Akhtar had requested the magistrate to prosecute Goswami and others under section 499 and 500 of RPC. Naeem had filed the defamation case also against BJP spokesman Khalid Jahangir.

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After the initial complaint was filed, Naeem Akhtar had demanded an unconditional apology from Goswami for the show he ran exposing the alleged corruption by Akhtar.

Republic TV had broadcast a show where they covered a letter written by Jehangir to the governor, calling Akhtar a ‘close aide’ of then CM Mehbooba Mufti. The BJP spokesperson had levelled charges of corruption against Akhtar.

“That republic tv while reporting about the said letter deliberately and intentionally mentions the name of my client in connection with the allegations levelled in the aforementioned letter by Mr Khalid Jahangir,” read the notice by Akhtar.

“Republic TV’s news story without any doubt is a clear and malicious attempt to create differences between the office bearers, members, workers and supporters of the J&K People’s Democratic Party and a spinster effort to break up the People’s Democratic Party,” read the legal notice further.

OpIndia reached out to Arnab Goswami. Talking about the non-bailable warrant issued against him, Arnab said:

“I have heard there is a non-bailable warrant against me. For whatever reasons the court wants me arrested is up to it, but our journalism which has the support of the people will not be impeded”.

It was also confirmed to us that this non-bailable warrant has been issued against Arnab Goswami after his petition seeking exemption from personal appearance in Srinagar was rejected by the Magistrate.