A Mumbai police cop who was part of the marathon interrogation of Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami has tested positive for Covid-19, senior lawyer Harish Salve informed the Supreme Court while representing the journalist.Arnab had petitioned the Supreme Court seeking the quashing of FIR against him filed over a complaint by Raza Educational Welfare Society’s secretary Irfan Abubakar Shaikh alleging “communal disturbance” over a Republic Bharat show on migrant protest in Bandra.
During the course of the hearing Salve said, “I am surprised to see why police is asking as to why he defamed certain people. Police is investigating a telecast! Moreover, Two officers who interrogated him were asymptomatic and one has been tested Covid-19 positive.” Salve added that during the questioning which lasted for over 12 hours, Arnab had asked the cops why they could not ask him the same questions via video conferencing.Salve additionally said that the Mumbai Police had rejected Arnab’s request for an interrogation via video conferencing. The Mumbai police had interrogated Arnab for around 12.5 hours at the N M Joshi Marg police station on 27 April over his comments against Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Following the interrogation, Arnab made it clear that he stand by his comments.