Arnab Goswami claims assault, doctors’ report shows no evidence: Judge

MUMBAI: High drama marked the arrest of Arnab Goswami on Wednesday when an Alibaug police team, along with a Mumbai police team, went to his Worli residence.

While Goswami claimed his son was roughed up, a policewoman filed a complaint at NM Joshi Marg police against the journalist, his wife Somyabrata Goswami, their son and others present at their home for manhandling public servants.

Alibaug deputy superintendent Praveen Patil’s name tag was torn off from his uniform, police said. The Alibaug magistrate said the medical report was filed and on its basis, it does not appear there was any mistreatment or excessive force or assault. There was no material to show any assault or use of force by police, the court said.

A policeman said Alibaug cops had sought assistance from Mumbai police as it anticipated “obstacles”. “We knew he would allege assault, so two of our members were told to video-record the incident, from us entering his apartment to him entering the police van,” said an officer. Goswami was provided Y-plus security after he was attacked a few months ago.

The operation began at 6am, with a team from the city crime branch, led by assistant inspector Sachin Waze, as well as a special operation squad from city police and the Alibaug team led by Patil reaching Goswami’s flat. Goswami didn’t open the door after seeing the police on CCTV and kept asking why they had come. He was heard making calls in the period. When he opened the door, his wife started video-recording and saying police were assaulting him. A journalist too tried to video-record the goings-on.

In the FIR, inspector Sujata Tanavade said when policemen stopped Somyabrata from recording, she pushed the cops that led to Patil’s name tag falling off. Goswami started shouting at cops, they alleged, and asked his wife not to sign documents, leading to Somyabrata tearing up papers she’d signed. The policewoman alleged Goswami threatened cops.