Truth Wins: Loss of Face For Siddaramaiah And Congress Govt as Fake Case Against Arnab Goswami Quashed

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has delivered a major setback to the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, quashing the case against Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief, Arnab Goswami. The frivolous case, filed by the Bengaluru police last year, falsely alleged that Republic TV aired a news report about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. However, the court’s decision exposes what many see as yet another politically motivated attempt to stifle independent journalism.  

The ruling by the Karnataka High Court highlights the Congress government’s repeated failure to muzzle voices that challenge its narrative. For Siddaramaiah and his administration, this ruling comes as a big loss of face, raising serious questions about the misuse of state machinery to target independent journalists.

'Reckless Registration of Crime'

The bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the order in the matter. While quashing the FIR against Arnab Goswami, Justice M Nagaprasanna stated, "Petition allowed and quashed." Before delivering the order, the court made a strong oral observation, questioning the basis of the case: "Court wants to know what's the offence against Arnab Goswami, absolutely nothing, abuse on its face." A detailed order is awaited in the matter.

In December 2024, the Karnataka High Court put a hold on the criminal proceedings initiated by the Karnataka police against Arnab. During the issuance of the interim order to halt the investigation against the Republic TV editor-in-chief, the court referred to the filing of the FIR as a "reckless registration of a crime."

“It is ununderstandable as to how the section is applicable to its remotest sense in the case at hand. Therefore it is a reckless registration of crime by respondent no 2. If such crime are permitted to continue it will amount to abuse of process of law", the court had observed strongly criticising the case which was filed following a complaint by an office bearer of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.  

‘Attempted Blackmail, Harassment': Arnab After Karnataka HC Quashes Case Against Him 

Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami has strongly reacted to the Karnataka High Court’s decision to quash the FIR against him, calling it an important ruling against frivolous cases filed by state governments to target journalists.

Speaking on the court’s judgment, Goswami said, "This case has incredible impact in terms of frivolous proceedings by various state governments against journalists and media… when I was arrested and when Justice Chandrachud said that there has been a weaponisation of the process of law… and what the honourable Judge has said today is absolutely similar."

Drawing parallels between cases filed against him in Maharashtra and Karnataka, Arnab highlighted what he described as a pattern of vendetta against media professionals.

"So while you know the cases that they have filed — both the ones — obviously have no basis, the Maharashtra government case and Karnataka government case — there is an element of vendetta that the Editor-in-Chief or the promoter of a news channel or network is the first person to be called in for investigation for any frivolous case and this is an attempted blackmail," he stated.

Arnab further emphasized the personal and professional toll such legal actions impose. "So while there may be no case, we are openly told by people who manufacture these proceedings that these are attempts to harass and these harassments come at a cost because the individual has to travel, he has to appear, all such things take a toll on their professional responsibilities," he added.

‘Classic Case of Abuse of Process of Law’, Says Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam 

Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam, representing Arnab and Republic TV on the matter said, "It’s clear that this is a classic case of abuse of process of law because there is absolutely nothing to register the case against Arnab Goswami… He is in no way concerned with the alleged incident at least. There is no ingredient to register a case. This government particularly is registering so many cases against journalists and social media activities since from the beginning, there are a number of cases registered and repeatedly the High Court has quashed such FIRs. This is a classic example and landmark judgement.”