Calcutta High Court Quashes Case Against Arnab Goswami, Republic TV Over Comments Made By Panelist Against Marwari Community

The Calcutta High Court has quashed proceedings against Republic TV and it's Editor-In-Chief Arnab Goswami over allegedly hateful and bigoted remarks made by a panelist during a live show, targeting the Marwari community.

Subhojit Ghosh, a guest on show, caste aspersions on the Marwari community and it's alleged involvement in black marketing, including the black marketing of masks. 

Justice Shampa Dutt (Paul) quashed the case upon being told by Goswami's counsel that the panelist who uttered such remarks was immediately shunned by Goswami and other participants, and that there was no further engagement on that topic either. It was stated by the petiitoner's that in the aftermath of the incident, and upon representation from the Bharatvarshiya Marwari Samaj, they had also issued a public statement, distancing themselves from the comments.

It was held that while the petitioners claimed that the comments could incite tensions between two groups, "in the present case there is no such ingredient as no two groups are involved."

"So the question of promoting enmity doescnot arise. The statement made in this case was a personal opinion/view during a live telecast. It was made by a panelist which did not prima facie have the approval of the petitioners to make such statement," the court observed while quashing the case.

Case: Mr. Arnab Goswami & Anr. Vs. The State of West Bengal & Anr.

Case No: CRR 1187 of 2022

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