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Abetment case: Arnab Goswami alleges mistreatment by Mumbai police
NEW DELHI: Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami is a man caught in the eye of a storm. Weeks after finding himself in the midst of a TRP manipulation racket, the journalist was arrested in connection to a 2018 abetment to suicide case. In the last few days, the visuals of Goswami being dragged and shoved ignominiously while being taken into police custody have been shared widely on social media and the TV news circuit. Now, he has levelled the charge of mistreatment against the Mumbai police in his bail plea before the Bombay high court.
Goswami has claimed that not only did he sustain injuries as a result of police action during his arrest, he was denied drinking water and made to ingest a “certain liquid” while he was in police custody.
"During the course of his arrest and while being transferred to Alibaug in a police van and in the custody of the police, the petitioner suffered a 6-inch-deep gash on his left hand, a serious injury to his spinal cord, was hit by a heavy uniform police officer’s boot, was not allowed to wear shoes throughout, suffered vein injuries and was not even given access to drinking water. Additionally, the Petitioner was also forced to consume certain liquid by the police officers guarding him and choked as a result thereof," the petition reads, as reported by Bar and Bench.
He has also accused the police of deliberately delaying in filing a reply to the court's notice on his bail plea, in order to ensure that he "remains illegally detained." Yesterday, senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Goswami, had asserted that the Maharashtra government was acting in malice against his client.
In a special hearing today, the bench of justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik has taken up Goswami's habeas corpus petition challenging his arrest and detention. Submissions are currently underway from senior advocate Amit Desai, appearing for the state. Earlier in the day, the court heard submissions from counsels for the two other accused in the case and advocate Subodh Desai, representing the complainant Adnya Naik, the deceased’s daughter.
The bench told the lawyers that they need to wrap up arguments on the matter of interim relief today itself, otherwise the case would be next posted for hearing on November 23, after vacations.
After being closed in 2019, the abetment case was reopened in October this year. It pertains to the suicide of Mumbai-based interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother. Naik alleged in his suicide note that Goswami and two others had not paid dues owed to his firm, which is why he decided to end his life. Goswami was arrested by Alibaug police and was remanded to judicial custody till 18 November by a magistrate’s court.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
