Image Courtesy:realtimes.in
A video of a woman named Akshata Naik, making some serious allegations against the Raigad Police (Maharashtra) and Republic TV owner Arnab Goswami, has surfaced recently. This video is being shared on social media and has also piqued the Congress party’s interest.
Naik’s husband Anvay and her mother-in-law had allegedly committed suicide in their farmhouse in Alibag in May 2018 and in his suicide note, Anvay had blamed Arnab Goswami and two others, Feroz Shaikh and Niteish Sarda, for not paying his dues, collectively worth more than Rs. 5 crores. This incident took place in May 2018 and none of the accused named in the case have been arrested yet. In the video, Akshata alleges that no substantial progress has been made in the investigation into the case. She also asks for action to be taken against Arnab Goswami and fears for her and her daughter’s lives.
Given Goswami’s recent tirade against Sonia Gandhi in connection with the Palghar lynching case, it is noteworthy that the Maharashtra Congress has taken note of the video and is demanding that serious investigation should start in the case. On May 5, the Maharashtra Congress tweeted the video:
Mrs.Akshata Naik has alleged that her entrepreneur husband and her mother in law had to commit suicide due to non payment of dues from Mr. Arnab Goswami’s @republic.
This is serious and needs further investigation. pic.twitter.com/sp0dovnMDr— Maharashtra Congress (@INCMaharashtra) May 5, 2020
In this video, Naik can also be seen making allegations against Suresh Varade, PI Alibag police station where he asked her to reconsider her decision of filing the FIR as it involves influential people. She says she went ahead with the FIR despite this, but the case is now at a virtual standstill with no real progress. She also alleges that she has not been given a laptop and a mobile phone back from the police which was taken for investigation. Even the suicide note was given to her after much persuasion. She apprehends serious threat to her life and says that if anything were to happen to her or her daughter, Arnab Goswami should be held responsible for it. She is also seen asking for protection for her and her daughter.
On the twitter account with user name, Akshta and Adnya Anvay Naik, there is an update whereby a non-cognizable offence has been registered, saying that they have received threatening calls from unknown person and they suspect that the same is being allegedly done at the behest of Arnab Goswami.
Offence registered against Arnab Goswami. Threats coming in for me and my mother.
I have represented the country in tennis at an international level. If civilized & educated people like us are at risk, what happens to the rest?@CMOMaharashtra we need help & protection asap pic.twitter.com/8xTUaD2fU9
— Akshata and Adnya Anvay Naik (@NaikAdnya) May 6, 2020
Background
In May 2018, Arnab Goswami, along with Feroz Shaikh and Niteish Sarda were booked by Raigad Police for abetment of suicide of Anvay Naik and his mother. Anvay Naik was the Managing Director of Concorde Designs Private Limited, an interior designing company and he claimed in his suicide note that the 3 individuals including Arnab Goswami had not paid him dues of Rs. 5.4 crore. It was also reported that Goswami owed him Rs. 83 lakh for designing the studio of Republic TV in Mumbai.
Republic TV had, back then, issued a statement, “Republic TV would like to clarify that it had engaged the services of one Concorde Designs Private Limited sometime in December 2016… All amounts due and payable under the contract were paid by Republic TV to Concorde Designs. The details of payment, including cheque numbers, amounts, dates of payment, related correspondence and documentation are available with Republic TV.”
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