A Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court granted ad-interim relief to the Chief Editor of `Deshonnati’ a local Marathi daily, in the case of allegedly abetting suicide of one of his staff members. While, granting protection against arrest to Prakash Pohare, Justice Bhushan Gavai issued notice to state government and directed Sonegaon police not to arrest him till April 18.
On April 7, police registered an offence against the paper `Deshonnati’ after scribe Manoj Padmagirwar allegedly committed suicide on March 28, following alleged harassment by seniors in the daily.
Pohare, anticipating arrest, approached the High court where he contended that his name was "unneccssarily" being dragged by his professional rivals to malign his image and charged that the tragic incident was being exploited to defame him and the daily.
Deceased Padamgirwar had left an 11-page suicide note alleging harassment by the management, including deduction of wages for petty reasons. He allegedly jumped in front of a train near the city and had left a suicide note, mentioning the reason.
