Nation wants to know why FIR was registered: Arnab Goswami, Amit Malviya argue in Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Saturday said it will pass orders on September 3 on petitions filed by former BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya and Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami seeking to quash an FIR registered against them on a Congress leader’s complaint [Amit Malviya v State of Karnataka, Arnab Goswami v State of Karnataka].

During a brief hearing today, Justice M Nagaprasanna was amused at a submission made by the Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam who was representing the petitioners.

"Short point for consideration, how an FIR can be filed in these kinds of cases, the nation wants to know?," Shyam submitted.

'The Nation Wants to Know' is a famous phrase used and popularised by Arnab Goswami in television debates.

In May 2025, Indian Youth Congress's legal cell head Shrikant Swaroop BN had registered a complaint against Malviya for his statement that the Istanbul Congress Centre, Turkey was an office of the Indian National Congress. Malviya was appearing on a debate on Republic TV debate when he made the claim.

The complaint led to registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Goswami and Malviya. Subsequently, the duo moved the High Court which stayed criminal proceedings against them in May 2025.

Today, the Court said the stay will continue till the next listing of the matter.

"Heard the learned senior counsel and SPP. Post for dictating orders on Sep 3. Interim order subsisting will continue until the next date of hearing," the Bench said.

Shyam had previously contended the complaints against Goswami and Malviya were politically motivated and baseless.

State Public Prosecutor BN Jagadeesh appeared for the State.