'Emergency era back': Former CMs of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand back Arnab and Republic TV

As Mumbai Police is hell-bent on targeting Republic Media Network, and in a way, attacking fourth pillar of democracy, media, former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Raghubar Das have slammed Maharashtra government and Param Bir Singh-led Mumbai Police over witch hunt against Network. chief ministers have expressed shock over FIR that has been slapped by Mumbai Police on entire team of Network, calling it a return of emergency days, and ded that team of Republic can be suppressed but cant be defeated.

'He can be harassed, but he stands strong'

" way a pot has been orchestrated to suppress Arnab and his team and entire government is behind ploy. It is always said that media has freedom to raise voice and also has right to protect its source, but I am shocked how Network has been tortured and fake cases are being implanted against m and  way entire editorial team is being forced to sit in police station. It is unfortunate and feels like a return of emergency. voice which entire nation listens to cant be muzzled. He (Arnab Goswami) can be harassed, but I saw how he and his team were standing with all ir might and raising voice against autocracy and of government. I will only say that whatever is happening is t at all right" former CM of Chattisgarh Raman Singh said.

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'Maharashtra government scared after being exposed'

"y (Republic) were exposing working of NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena led autocratic government, so government got scared and hence y have gone full throttle. autocratic government is trying to muzzle voice of press. This is what Indira Gandhi h also done. Despite verdict of Allahab High Court in 1976, she me changes in constitution and showed us days of emergency. All tall leers of country were put in jail. But in next election people showed her power. Press h called it second independence after 1947. Again people of Maharashtra will show NCP-Congress and Shiv Sena true power of constitution," former CM of Jharkhand Raghubar Das said.

FIR on entire editorial staff of Republic

On Friday, Mumbai Police filed an FIR against entire editorial team of network, including 1000 employees & top editors of Network. Mumbai police has booked case for a serious n-bailable offence for incitement to disaffection among members of Police Force and defaming Mumbai Police - under sections 500 and 34 of IPC. Apparently, Mumbai Police has used a 98-year-old clause dating back to 1922 of British Raj and it has t been used in Indian constitution or by Mumbai Police for 34 years or more.

Also, OpIndia has revealed that Mumbai Police has tried to coerce a witness to say that he was being paid to watch Republic Bharat. According to OPIndia accessed tapes, witness told his neighbour that 10-12 policemen along with an arrested person named Umesh barged into his house at 3.30 AM, asking his family how much money y have received for watching a certain channel, who gave m money and in whose account money was received.

Republic employees have been questioned for over a combined 100 hours. Arnab Goswami has been questioned for 20 hours, Niranjan Narayanaswamy for 17 hours, Senior Executive Editor Abhishek Kapoor for 7 hours, Republic Media Network CEO Vikas Khanchandanani for 7 hours, Assistant Vice President Ghanshyam Singh for 25 hours, CFO Sundaram for 32 hours and COO Harsh Bhandari for 8 hours.

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