SC declines to entertain Republic TV petition seeking protection from arrest for its employees; terms petition “ambitious”

The Supreme Court Monday declined to entertain a petition filed by ARG Outlier Media Private Limited, which owns the Republic Media network, and Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami, seeking protection for the group and its employees in the cases lodged against them in Maharashtra.

A bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud termed the petition “ambitious” and suggested that it would be better for the petitioner to withdraw it.

“This petition is ambitious in nature. You want Maharashtra police not to arrest any employee and transfer the cases to CBI. You better withdraw this,” Justice Chandrachud told senior advocate Milind Sathe, who appeared for ARG Outlier Media.

Sensing the mood of the bench which was not inclined to admit the petition, the petitioners went on to withdraw it.

The petitioners had also sought a CBI inquiry against the state and its police for lodging several cases against the media group and its employees.

Mumbai Police in October claimed to have busted a “racket” where Television Rating Points (TRPs) of certain channels, including Republic TV, were being manipulated illegally. ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd has denied these allegations.