Apologize with folded hands on TV or face consequences: Shiv Sena leader to Arnab Goswami

Guwahati: A Shiv Sena leader on Friday, offended over "insults and humiliations" meted out during debates on the issue of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, demanded Republic TV Chief Arnab Goswami to apologize with folded hands on TV or face criminal charges.

Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission (VNSSM) President Kishore Tiwari, who is also a Minister of State status, has contended that the manner in which the debates are conducted on Republic TV channel were an attempt at "Contempt of the Supreme Court".

"Once during the programme, you had gone one step more to term (Chief Minister) Uddhavji Thackeray as 'prime accused' of the (Sushant) case in your prejudged, perverse, biased and pre-determined style towards the Thackeray family," Tiwari, who also happens to be a lawyer, said in his a legal notice to the Republic TV Head.

Tiwari further contended that the approach of the debates on the Sushant Singh Rajput case on the channel was "based on false, concocted stories and a prejudiced mindset in a predetermined way", which, he held, is also contempt of the Supreme Court of India.

In a shocking allegation, the Shiv Sena leader also alleged Republic TV had targeted former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and linked her with the Lalit Modi case. Tiwari said she could not bear the shock, leading to the collapse of her immune system, and finally, she succumbed to cancer in August last year.

Tiwari further alleged that Republic TV headed by its Chief Goswami is targeting the Thackeray family in Maharashtra to "tarnish their image." He claimed this amounts to "sheer misuse of freedom of expression and media."

In the legal notice, Tiwari demanded Arnab Goswami to "apologize with folded hands" on his television channel during prime time and also publish the same apology in print publications.

Failing this, Tiwari has warned the Republic TV chief and his team of criminal and civil proceedings. He has also threatened to launch a separate case requesting the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the journalist.

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