Ace lawyer, Harish Salve who represented Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami in the 2018 abetment to suicide case in the Supreme Court of India did not even charge a penny for his labor after brilliantly defending Arnab and taking the Maha Vikas Aghadi to the cleaners. Speaking at his 9 PM debate show, Arnab revealed that Salve fought the case pro-bono and that he was deeply grateful to him.
“I must place on record, my deepest personal and professional gratitude for the legal colossus. One of India’s foremost jurists Mr Harish Salve, who fought with all his heart and knowledge for me. I am deeply grateful. We owe deep gratitude to Harish Salve,” said Arnab who further added “I don’t know how many of you all know this but Mr Harish Salve does not charge us even one rupee for any of his valuable appearances for the court. He appears pro-bono for us. That is something I can’t even express my gratitude and thanks for,”
Appearing for Arnab Goswami, Harish Salve put forth astute arguments that showed the mirror to the Maharashtra government which was acting in malice and trying to force Arnab’s name in the abetment to suicide case, which had already been closed in the year 2019.
“The person was in financial difficulty and, thereafter, committed suicide but how can it be abetment to suicide. For abetment there must be direct and indirect act of the commission of the offence. If tomorrow, a person commits suicide in Maharashtra and blames Government, then will the Chief minister be arrested?” said Salve in one of his finest arguments of the day.
Even the Supreme Court and the vacation bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Indrani Banerjee held a similar point of view and stated, “Deceased was suffering from “manasik tadpan” as in FIR or mental stress? For section 306 abetment there needs to be actual incitement. Does one owes money to another and they commit suicide would it be abetment?”
Salve’s salvo of words and arguments didn’t stop here and he openly questioned the vendetta of the MVA in outing Arnab Goswami in Taloja jail where hardened criminals resided.
“Let us assume there is an FIR which is three years old why will you arrest him and then put him in Taloja with hardened criminals. Is Goswami a terrorist, is there a murder charge on him? This cannot be assumed to be yet another criminal case. Will heavens fall if this man is released. Jail is an exception, not a rule.” added Salve.
The court on Wednesday ordered the release of Arnab from the Taloja jail and in the judgment said “We hold HC was incorrect in not granting bail. Arnab Goswami and two other accused be released on interim bail on a bond of Rs 50,000. Commissioner of Police is directed to ensure order is followed immediately.”
What stood out in the judgment was the highest court of law’s observation that if the court didn’t interfere today, then it would set us all on the path of destruction.
“If we don’t interfere in this case today we will walk on the path of destruction. If left to me I won’t watch the channel and you may differ in ideology but Constitutional courts will have to protect such freedoms” said Justice Chandrachud.
Chandrachud: If we don't interfere in this case today we will walk on path of destruction
If left to me I won't watch the channel and you may differ in ideology but constitutional courts will have to protect such freedoms then we are walking on path of destruction. #ArnabGoswami pic.twitter.com/nJALmA5QHe
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) November 11, 2020
The MVA government, especially Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray have been coming at absolutely anyone who dare criticize the government or his son Aditya Thackeray, showing that Maharasthra has entered deep into the state of fascism which the woke. While Arnab got the bail, Sameet Thakkar is still doing the rounds of Maharashtra jails.
Harish Salve has given Uddhav Thackeray a bitter pill to swallow with the bail of Arnab and SC’s scathing remarks and thus it can be hoped that Thackeray reins in his ego a tad bit and instead of going after any dissenter, sticks to servicing the common folks of Maharashtra.
