Breaking- Give Three Days Prior Notice To Arnab Goswami Before Taking Any Coercive Action Him In TRP Scam: Bombay High Court To Mumbai Police

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday admitted Republic TV and Arnab Goswami's petition challenging Mumbai police's investigation in the Television Rating Points scam, and granted Goswami protection from arrest.

A division bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale directed the police to give Goswami an advance notice of three days in case they decide to take any coercive action against him during the course of investigation.

Goswami will be at liberty to approach the court against such notice.

"Serious malafides have been alleged by the petitioner (Arnab Goswami), " the bench observed.

During the hearing Chief Public Prosecutor Deepak Thakare for the Mumbai Police informed the court that they will complete the investigation, qua the petitioners, within 12 weeks.

The court has granted the Mumbai Police time to investigate the other channels.

The bench said that in light of Bhajan Lal's case, the investigation can continue. "Investigation is the exclusive purview of the investigating agency, investigation will not be interfered with by court at this stage."

The court admitted the petition and framed the following questions to be decided. Case adjourned to June 28.

1. Whether the prayers made for quashing of FIR can be entertained in the absence of the petitioners being arraigned as accused.

2. In the absence of the petitioners being made as accused in respect of the FIR, whether the petition can be entertained for transfer of investigation to the CBI and direction not to take any coercive steps against the pet as also their employees and agents.

3. Whether the respondents (Mumbai Police) can be permitted to keep the sword of an investigation hanging over the heads of petitioner for indefinite period without them being arraigned as accused.

4. Whether the Investigating officer can continue the investigation by invoking the widely worded clause of "suspect"

5. Whether the prayers in the Writ Petition can be entertained only on the grounds of serious malafides against the petitioners when they are admittedly not accused in the FIR.

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