Navi Mumbai: A team of Alibag police, which visited the Republic TV office in Mumbai on Sunday, are now verifying the claims mentioned in the FIR registered by Akshata, wife of Anvay Naik who committed suicide at his farm house in Alibag in Saturday.
“We are checking all documents that we have received to verify the claims. The documents include the contract papers and payment receipts,” said senior police inspector Suresh Warade from Alibag police station. There are also some doubts over the cause of death of Naik’s mother, whose body was found on the ground floor. “Doctors have kept the cause of death of the 78-year-old on reserve,” Mr. Warade said.
Mr. Naik, whose body was found on the first floor, had left a suicide note accusing editor-in-chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami, Feroz Shaikh of IcastX/Skimedia, and Neetish Sarda of Smartworks, for not paying dues, collectively amounting to ₹5.40 crore for the interiors work done for them due to which his firm Concorde Designs Private Limited, suffered severe losses.
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As per the FIR registered by Ms. Naik under Section 306 of IPC for abetment of suicide, Mr. Goswami of ARG Outlier of Republic TV has allegedly not paid dues ₹83 lakh, while Mr. Shaikh owed her husband ₹4 crore for his project at Andheri. Mr. Sarda is alleged to have not paid ₹55 lakh for his projects at Magarpatta and Baner.
A statement released by Republic TV said, “Certain vested interest groups are running a false and malicious campaign and making false statements and innuendos against Republic TV by exploiting a tragic event involving the unfortunate demise of one Mr Anvay Naik. Republic TV will take strict legal action against anyone indulging in such false propaganda. Republic TV would like to clarify that it had engaged the services of one Concorde Designs Private Limited sometime in December 2016. All amounts due and payable under the contract were paid by Republic TV to Concorde Designs. The details of payment, including cheque nos., amounts, dates of payment, related correspondence and documentation are available with Republic TV. All such details and evidence will be given to the appropriate authorities as and when required. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr Naik’s family.”