The Karnataka High Court on Thursday quashed an FIR filed against Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami for allegedly airing fake news about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Bar and Bench reported.
The Bengaluru police had booked Goswami and R Kannada editor Niranjan J in March 2024 under section 505 (2) of the IPC for ‘statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes’.
The news anchor had filed a plea to quash the criminal case against him. Before passing the order to dismiss the validity of the FIR, Justice M Nagaprasanna orally observed that the “court wants to know what’s the offence against Arnab Goswami” and that there’s “absolutely nothing, abuse on its face”.
The case against the Goswami was based on a complaint filed by a Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee member. In his complaint, Ravindra MV had alleged that on March 27, 2024, Republic’s Kannada news channel had aired a story claiming that Siddaramaiah’s convoy blocked the traffic and obstructed an ambulance on MG Road in Bengaluru. The complainant had claimed that the chief minister was, however, in Mysuru, and not in Bengaluru, at the time.
Representing Goswami, senior advocate Aruna Shyam said in the court that the video news report in question was deleted within 24 hours of being broadcast.
In December, the high court had placed an interim stay on all investigations against Goswami in the case. At the time, it said, “What has Arnab Goswami done? There is a plethora of things brought out by him. It might have proved good for some and bad for others but where is the case of inciting?”
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