Condemning the arrest of Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami in connection with a 2018 abetment to suicide case, the All India Bar Association (AIBA) on Wednesday termed it as a violation of the Supreme Court guidelines to protect the rights of the arrestees. AIBA Chairman Dr Adish C Aggarwala, in a letter to the Maharashtra Governor, appealed for an immediate release of the journalist terming it a "blatant misuse of power" by the Maharashtra government against Republic TV and Arnab Goswami.

"The illegal arrest is an attack on individual freedom and the fourth pillar of democracy. The guidelines of the Supreme Court in the judgment passed in DK Basu vs State of West Bengal have been violated by Mumbai Police in the matter of arrest of Arnab Goswami," the letter said.