Amidst the speculations and accusations by the people and the BJP, it is now being confirmed Maharashtra state government drafted an operation to arrest the Republic TV Chief Arnab Goswami. Going by the reports of TOI, Maharashtra State Department led by Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh came out with a plan named 'Operation Arnab'.
The report says that Anil Deshmukh drafted a high-level 40-member team led by Kokan range Inspector General (IG) Sanjay Mohite to arrest the Republic TV Chief Arnab Goswami in the 2018 abetment of suicide case.
The report says, IG Mohite reportedly drafted a plan to arrest Arnab and the responsibility to execute the plan was entrusted to Mumbai’s ‘encounter specialist’ Sachin Vaze.
"Operation Arnab" began a few days after Raigad police secured permission to reopen the probe into the alleged suicides of architect Anway Naik and his mother Kumud in 2018. In all, 40 personnel were drawn from Mumbai and Raigad police.
A cabinet was quoted who said, "For the team led by Mohite, it was a challenging task in view of the powerful Arnab. We acted very carefully, every member of the team observed restraint despite provocation."
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Giving an insight into the 'Operation Arnab' the Cabinet Minister revealed that it was a secret mission. It was confirmed that Arnab was allegedly 'involved in the abetment to suicide case'. He added that 'their people' made several rounds of the building where Arnab was residing. “It was a secret operation. We were fearing that if the information is leaked, Arnab may flee the city to avoid arrest,” added the Cabinet Minister.
He said, "It was a planned operation, even small issues were taken care of. It was decided who will knock at the door, who will talk to Arnab and his family members, and what the course of action would be if he resists. Arnab did resist. However, after Vaze explained to him the legal position if he failed to join the investigation, it was a smooth affair".