As the political heat soars in the wake of the arrest of Republic TV editor in-chief Arnab Goswami in an abetment of suicide case on Wednesday, the channel has issued a statement on the case.
Arnab Goswami was arrested on charges of allegedly abetting the suicide of Anvay Naik, an interior designer, and his mother in 2018. Anvay Naik's family alleged Arnab Goswami and two other persons had not paid the interior designer for work on creating the Republic TV studios.
Republic TV claimed, "Fabricated lies about how ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd (‘ARG’) owes money to Mrs Akshata Naik, the wife of deceased architect Anvay Naik were spread in May 2020".
Republic TV claimed that its parent company, ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd, had made repeated attempts to clear dues. "ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd has paid over 90% of the amounts due to deceased Anvay Naik’s company Concorde Designs Pvt. Ltd. (‘CDPL’) as per the terms of the work orders issued, over two years ago. The remaining sum was to be paid on completion of the pending work, which has since not been undertaken. Repeated attempts were made by ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd to make the balance payment to CDPL, for full and final settlement of all claims," Republic TV claimed.
It claimed Anvay Naik's wife had not responded to attempts to arrive at a "full and final settlement". "It is put on record that despite multiple meetings, emails, letters and WhatsApp messages reaching out to CDPL, Mrs Akshata Naik, and Ms Adnya Naik regarding ARG Outlier Media Ltd’s willingness to ensure a full and final settlement, no concrete response has been received," Republic TV claimed.
Republic TV accused Anvay Naik's wife of "fabricating facts". "Mrs Akshata Naik demanded in the past that all payments due be made not to CDPL but third party vendors. ARG is contractually obligated to make any & all outstanding payments only to CDPL and not third parties," Republic TV claimed.
