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Tag: Mumbai police

  • TRP scam: Mumbai police extends custody of Partho Dasgupta

    TRP scam: Mumbai police extends custody of Partho Dasgupta

    MUMBAI: Clearly, the Mumbai police believe they have got their man and have managed to extend Partho Dasgupta’s custody till 30 December. The police has alleged that Dasgupta – a former BARC CEO was the mastermind of the TRP scam – connived with his then COO Romil Ramgarhia and Republic founder and promoter Arnab Goswami to depress the ratings of the older English news channel and pump up the ratings of the news anchor’s channel Republic TV.

    A Time of India report said that the police have stated  that Partho (as he is known in the fraternity)  got lakhs of rupees for his legerdemain of boosting Republic TV viewership. The Mumbai police's Crime Branch, in its remand note submitted before a magistrate's court here, sought further custody of Dasgupta, claiming he was the "mastermind" of the alleged TRP scam.

    The remand note further states that Partho “misused his official position and manipulated TRP of specific news channels broadcast by ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd such as Republic Bharat Hindi and Republic TV English," the police alleged in its remand note. "Dasgupta, while serving as CEO got involved in the conspiracy along with Arnab Goswami and others for manipulation of TRP.”

    Even as his incarceration continues, one can’t forget that  the advertising fraternity, only recently elected Dasgupta as president of the Advertising Club, Mumbai.

  • TRP scam: BARC ex-CEO Partho Dasgupta arrested

    TRP scam: BARC ex-CEO Partho Dasgupta arrested

    MUMBAI:The long arm of the law is closing in.  In yet another turn of events in the alleged TRP manipulation case, the custody seeking hungry  Mumbai police has arrested BARC India’s former CEO  and media veteran Partho Dasgupta. He was picked up from Rajgad police station jurisdiction in Pune rural and is being brought to the Mumbai crime branch.

    Dasgupta will be produced before the additional chief metropolitan magistrate court (ACMM) on Friday.

    For the uninitiated, this is the fifteenth arrest in the TRP scam, coming close on the heels of former BARC COO Romil Ramgarhia and Republic Media Network CEO Vikas Khanchandani being taken in police custody. Both of them have been released from jail on bail.

    The Mumbai police has claimed to have found WhatsApp chats between Ramgarhia and Khanchandani that indicates manipulation in viewership data. No proof of this has been provided to the media as at the time of writing. 

    The law enforcer  began an investigation into the alleged scam after ratings agency BARC India filed a complaint through Hansa Research Agency about the rigging of TRP by some TV channels. Republic promoter Arnab Goswami – who too was arrested and incarcerated for a few days –  has called the entire investigation  TRP as political vendatta by the Maharashtra government led by Udhav Thackeray.

  • TRP scam: Mumbai Court grants bail to Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani

    TRP scam: Mumbai Court grants bail to Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani

    NEW DELHI: In a major relief to the private channel, Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandhani has been granted bail by the Mumbai court, in the alleged TRP manipulation scam. Khanchandani was picked from his home on Sunday and was sent to 14-day judicial custody by the Metropolitan Magistrate court at Esplanade on Tuesday.

    Khanchandani was the 13th arrest in the case after the alleged scam was busted by the Mumbai Police in October. Earlier, the channel’s head of distribution Ghansham Singh was also arrested in the same case. His name also appeared in the charge sheet prepared by the Mumbai Police department.

    The charge sheet in the case names 140 witnesses, including forensic auditors and members of BARC or Broadcast Audience Research Council, which assesses ratings.

    Republic TV maintains that the arrests have been made in a matter of vendetta by the Mumbai police over their critical reportage in the Sushant Singh Rajput case.  

  • TRP row: SC rejects Arnab Goswami’s plea for CBI probe

    TRP row: SC rejects Arnab Goswami’s plea for CBI probe

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a petition filed by Republic TV and its editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami seeking protection for all the employees of the news channel from coercive action by Maharashtra police.

    The channel had filed a plea in the ongoing TRP scam investigation that was unearthed by Mumbai police on 8 October.

    The plea alleging continuous hounding of Republic TV employees by the Maharashtra police and seeking a probe by central bureau of investigation (CBI) was withdrawn after a bench headed by justice DY Chandrachud remarked that it was "ambitious in nature.”

    Chandrachud said, "This petition is ambitious in nature. You want Maharashtra police not to arrest any employee and transfer to CBI. You better withdraw this."

    Goswami's counsel, senior advocate Milind Sathe, then chose to rescind the plea after the court granted liberty to Goswami and Republic TV to move appropriate forum for relief.

    The fake TRP scam came to light in October when rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) filed a complaint through Hansa Research group, alleging that certain television channels were rigging TRP numbers. Hansa had been tasked with installing barometers, which record viewership data at sample households. 

    Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh then claimed that Republic TV and two Marathi channels – Box Cinema and Fakt Marathi – were involved in manipulating ratings. 

    Since then several arrests have been made in the case and there has been a lot of developments both within and outside of the courtroom.  

  • TRP scam: Mumbai Police files charge sheet

    TRP scam: Mumbai Police files charge sheet

    NEW DELHI: After a rigmarole of over one month, Mumbai Police has filed a charge sheet in the court, in the fake TRP scam, which was busted by the city police following a complaint by Hansa Research Group, a part of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). 

    So far, 12 arrests have been made by the crime brand in the case, including owners of Fakt Marathi, Box Cinema, and distribution head of Republic TV. 

    The fake TRP scam came to light last month when rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) filed a complaint through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain television channels were rigging TRP numbers. Hansa had been tasked with installing barometers, which record viewership data at sample households.

    Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh last month claimed that Republic TV and two Marathi channels Box Cinema and Fakt Marathi- were involved in manipulating TRPs.

    The Maharashtra government last month withdrew its "general consent" given to the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe cases in the state, in the wake of the CBI taking over a case registered by Uttar Pradesh Police against "unknown" channels and persons over alleged fudging of TRP.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently filed a money laundering complaint in the alleged TRP rigging scam being investigated by the Mumbai Police.

  • Bombay HC tells Mumbai police not to harass Hansa employees

    Bombay HC tells Mumbai police not to harass Hansa employees

    NEW DELHI: Bombay high court told Mumbai police not to harass Hansa Group’s employees by calling them every day to the crime branch. This was in response to a plea moved by the research agency citing harassment faced by its staff allegedly on account of their reluctance to give false statements against Republic TV in the ongoing TRP scam case.

    Media reports suggest that the bench of justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik have issued notices in the matter and granted the respondents – namely Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh and two other officers – liberty to file their reply. The court has also recorded a statement made on behalf of the police that Hansa's employees will only be called in twice a week till the next date of hearing.

    The court will examine the submissions from both sides and added, "…in the interregnum, you cannot call them (Hansa Research) every day. They are complainants, not the accused."

    Hansa Research in its plea alleged that the crime branch officials were pressuring its employees to “retract” a report, based on which Republic TV had claimed it was not among channels named in the TRP scam case. They were repeatedly called to the crime branch and made to wait for hours on end from October 12 onwards. The petition named assistant police inspector (Crime Branch) Sachin Vaze, Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh, assistant CP and chief investigating officer Shashank Sandbhor, Maharashtra government and the CBI as respondents.

    Read more news on Hansa Research

    "This is a unique situation where the first informant in the crime is being harassed by the investigating agency and treated like an accused only for a false statement …petitioners are being used by police and media to attack each other," the plea said.

    The petitioners stated that they told crime branch officers repeatedly that they could not confirm or deny the report since they were not aware what the ‘Hansa report’ cited by Republic TV was, as the channel had not sought their permission or informed them about using the report, and only parts of the report were telecast. They said that they will have to see the entire document to ascertain its veracity.

    On 6 October, Hansa Research Group lodged an FIR against its employee Vishal Bhandari after he was found allegedly accepting payments illegally to make certain households watch specific TV channels to fudge TRP. Several arrests have been made in the case.

  • Mumbai police arrest Republic TV editor in chief Arnab Goswami

    Mumbai police arrest Republic TV editor in chief Arnab Goswami

    MUMBAI: Republic TV founder & editor in chief Arnab Goswami was picked up from his residence early this morning by the Mumbai police. According to Republic TV, 10 policemen entered Goswami’s residence and pushed him around, before taking him away.

    According to the media firm, the police had no summons or arrest warrants at the time of his arrest.

    Zee News reported that Arnab has been arrested in connection with an old abetment to suicide case of a 53-year-old interior designer. A Mumbai police official said that an architect and his mother committed suicide in 2018 over alleged non-payment of dues by Republic TV. Arnab, it says, has been arrested under Section 306 and Section 34 of IPC.

    Reports are that Arnab will be taken to Raigad for questioning.

    Republic TV has alleged that the cops “blocked Republic executive editor Niranjan Narayanswamy and senior associate editor Sanjay Pathak from entering his residence. Eught police vehicles and at least 40-50 Police personnel are in the building premises of Arnab, many armed. When Niranjan said that it is his right to report, he was thrown out of the building and the Mumbai police wanted his phone.”

    Republic TV has alleged that Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh is carried out a vendetta campaign against the channel.

    I&B  minister Prakash Javadekar has spoken out against the treatment being meted out to Arnab. 

  • CBI takes over investigations from Lucknow Police in TRP manipulation

    CBI takes over investigations from Lucknow Police in TRP manipulation

    NEW DELHI: The latest development in the alleged TRP manipulation row is that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the inquiry into the alleged TRP manipulation case from the Lucknow police, according to officials quoted in a PTI report.

    A case had been registered in the Hazratganj police station of Lucknow after a complaint was filed by a person named Kamal Sharma, three days ago.

    The alleged TRP manipulation scam was first unearthed by the Mumbai police commissioner ParamBirSinghon 8 October. Since then, charges have been flying thick and fast between one of the accused Republic Media and the law keepers. Singh during his press conference had stated three channels including Republic were involved in the rigging. However, the Arnab Goswami led news broadcaster was vehement in its denial of its involvement, saying that the commissioner was indulging in a vendetta campaign. Goswami had also said he would fight the Mumbai police in the courts.

    It even moved the court seeking to quash the FIR lodged by the Mumbai police against it.During the ongoing arguments in court yesterday, advocate Kapil Sibal representing the Maharashtra government and the Mumbai police Police, stated that the FIR has no mention of Republic, hence there is no need to quash it. On the other hand, advocate Harish Salve representing Republic Media, assured that the petitioner will cooperate with the authorities whenever called to do so.

    So far, it seems as if Arnab and Republic are scoring points against the police in this specific case. Will the latter play a hidden card? We can only wait and watch. 

  • Republic Media provides proof of its innocence in TRP rigging charges

    Republic Media provides proof of its innocence in TRP rigging charges

    NEW DELHI: Republic Media Network has come out with a statement in which it is claiming a thumping victory against the “fake news propaganda being spread by the Mumbai police about it being found guilty of rigging viewership ratings.”

    Republic CEO Vikas Khanchandani has in his possession an official email from the viewership ratings agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) in which it has said “there is not a single complaint or malpractice found against Republic TV, Republic Bharat or any other affiliate of the news network.”

    The Arnab Goswami founded news network has been claiming from day one of the TRP rigging press conference organised by the Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh that the law keeper has been perpetrating vendetta against him.

    The Republic Media release states that the email “crumbles the pack of lies floated and repeated over the last nine days by Param Bir Singh and a section of the media.”

    The statement mentions that Republic Media received an email from BARC on 17 October 2020, in which the agency has stated that: “If there was any disciplinary action initiated under the said Code against M/s ARG Outlier Media Private Ltd., then BARC India would have communicated the same to you along with necessary documents for your response.”

    With this documentary evidence by BARC out in the public domain, Republic says that three things have been proven: 

    ·   The Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh’s comments against Republic TV were “blatantly false, lies and an extension of political vendetta. It is now incumbent on him to apologise for his lie-ridden campaign against India’s Number 1 news network.”

    ·   That every word uttered across certain sections of the media is false, unsubstantiated and fake news. “Now that the truth is out in the public domain, the onus is now on those portals to correct themselves, apologise for the fake news and put out the truth.”

    ·   The Republic Media Network which runs on the highest professional and journalistic standards has been “vindicated after a nine day slander campaign curated by vested interests and we have been duly informed that there was never a case against us.”

    The news network has demanded that serious action needs to be taken against the police commissioner as well as the political masters behind him, should they be involved for going on a tirade against it based on a series of lies. It says that it is going to fight against any forces and come out unscathed, no matter how hard the Mumbai police or anyone else tries to intimidate and harass it. “We will comply with the law of the land, but not for a moment give in to the coercive attempts to shut down our pursuit for truth through our journalism. We will fight this campaign both in the courts of law and the court of public opinion, with the people of India by our side,” the statement further says.

  • A forgettable 10 days for the news broadcasting industry

    A forgettable 10 days for the news broadcasting industry

    KOLKATA: This past week saw news channels become the breaking news. It all started with the Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh claiming to have uncovered a TRP rigging con. Matters came to a head when BARC decided to hit the pause button on weekly news channel ratings.

    Here are the important twists that shook the industry:

    The Mumbai Police on 8 October announced they have busted a TRP manipulation racket involving Republic TV and two Marathi channels. Hansa Research CEO Praveen Nijhara said the agency conducted an investigation with BARC which resulted in Hansa Research filing an FIR against an ex-employee who was engaged in some wrongdoing.

    However, the Arnab Goswami-led Republic TV denied any allegation of manipulating BARC data and accused the police of “personal vendetta." The channel stated that its name was not mentioned in the FIR for this case at all.

    At the same time, the TV viewership measurement body BARC also re-emphasised that it has always remained accurate and faithful. The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) called an emergency meeting of its board to discuss the TRP manipulation case.

    Read more news on BARC

    There was also a rumour that India Today had been named in the FIR as indulging in TRP gaming. But they issued a clarification: the channel’s name was mentioned but there was no evidence or witnesses to substantiate the allegation.

    Soon after, top executives from two major brands said that they would pull out advertisements from channels that promote toxic content. Many other brands came forward in support of the decision, reminding news channels about the need to improve content quality. The NBA also praised the move saying it would help the fight against toxic content.

    As the controversy dragged on, BARC board proposed that it’s technical committee (TechComm) would review and augment the current standards of measuring and reporting the data of niche genres, to improve their statistical robustness and to significantly hamper the  potential attempts of infiltrating the panel homes. This exercise would cover all Hindi, regional, English news and business news channels with immediate effect.

    Therefore, starting with the ‘news genre’, BARC decided to cease publishing the weekly individual ratings for all news channels during the exercise. The process is expected to take around eight-twelve weeks including validation and testing under the supervision of Tech Comm. BARC will continue to release weekly audience estimates for the genre of news by state and language.

    Following the announcement, NBA came forward in support of BARC. It is of the view that the suspension is an important step in the right direction. On the other hand, the News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), objected to the decision to pause audience estimates (ratings) of news channels.

    Meanwhile, a regulatory intervention could strike the industry soon. The parliamentary standing committee on information technology that met on Thursday to discuss ‘ethical standards in media coverage’ seemed none too happy about the TV viewership measurement system. It opined that the current metric of measuring audience estimates through TRPs is flawed, that the technology it depends on is outdated, and that the system is easily manipulated.