Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh on Thursday said that his force had busted a scam to manipulate TRPs by some TV channels including Republic TV. There are indications that Republic TV founder Arnab Goswami could be arrested since the Mumbai Police have already arrested the owners of two Marathi channels in connection with the scam. Singh said that bank accounts of the three TV channels including that of Republic TV are to be probed and seized if the allegations of fraud are established.
Singh told reporters on Thursday, “As I said, owners of two channels, Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema, have been arrested. Now our investigation shows that there are chances of people working at Republic TV, the channel’s directors and promoters involved (in the TRP racket). The future investigation is being carried out against Republic TV employees, directors and its directors.”
Singh’s press conference indicated that Goswami as one of the promoters of Republic TV and Republic Bharat too could face arrest. Republic Bharat had recently claimed the top spot in the TRP race by dislodging Aaj Tak, which has historically been the market leader in the Hindi TV news genre.
“As you are aware, TV advertisements run in thousands of crores of rupees,” the Mumbai top cop said adding that income from advertisements by manipulating TRPs will be deemed as ‘proceeds from crime.’
“All those advertisers, from whom this money was obtained through TRP manipulation, will be summoned for grilling. They will be grilled to conclude if they were complicit or victims of this fraud. The TRP system has been manipulated… We have identified three TV channels with Republic TV being the biggest name amongst them,” Singh said.
The Mumbai top cop said that his force will also probe the bank accounts of all three TV channels including that of Republic TV, adding that their bank accounts could be seized. Singh said that TV channels manipulated households by paying them money to boost their TRPs. Each household received to the tune of Rs 400-500 every month. The Police have already conducted interviews with people involved in the scam.
A report by India Today said that ACP Shashank of Crime Branch’s CIU was leading the investigation and DCP and JCP are supervising the investigation.
Goswami has issued a statement, threatening to file a defamation case against Mumbai Police commissioner. His statement read, “Mumbai Police Commissioner‘s targeting only strengthens the resolve of everyone at Republic TV to push for the truth even harder.”
Mumbai Police Commissioner Singh said that he had filed a case on criminal breach of trust and will share the findings with the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
LIVE UPDATES on this story will appear below:
17:42 PM: There are 2,000 meters installed in Mumbai. Households, where these meters are installed is confidential info. The scam focusses on how these households were paid to watch certain channels & keep them switched on even when no one was watching: Mumbai Police
17:41 PM: If you see the data, poor uneducated households, who dont speak English were watching only English TV channels: Mumbai Police Commissioner
17:39 PM: Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram tweets, “An issue our Parliamentary Committee must examine.
Arrest Mumbai police commissioner immediately otherwise democracy will be in danger.
Hahaha look here,, this bhakt says only TV channel can do investigation, it’s like the same government who keep saying this phrase
“Jhoot bolo jab tak sach lagne lage”
Put the TRP famemonger arnab in jail who is a rapist on journalism..
I am supporting Arnav. Time will proof Mubai Police’s conspiracy to flatter their master !
You must be sitting on your brains.
Arrest arnab goswami other wise democracy in danger
Not only Mumbai police commissioner but also it’s politicians. They are the real culprit. They are trying to silence every voice against them.
Really
Well said bro
Comment:What pursued you to make an ugly comment on a person not going in detail of the scam. It is good to be a supporter but it is bad to be a blind supporter. You are so crazy that you do like to support the sun rises on the west. If you so love to support committed sins done by your party and the said channel darkness will engulf India. If you love your country, you should let law take its own course.
Arrest the pimp for false news spreading, bullying and lying,, throw him behind bars so he learns a lesson for life
Biscuit
Why don’t you arrest the celebrities who endorsed the product and services, as the performance / result they claim in the advertisement are not anywhere the truth.
Is this not a crime?
Shame on Mumbai police commissioner his team and shivsena. They proved they are supporting wrong. But we netizens are with republic tv. We support republic tv and boycott all fake news channel
One day I decided to see a debate show of republic TV. I tried my best,to hear the speech of the participants,even of my best efforts nothing can be heard distinctly,as if there was a competition of surpassing each other and ultimately After’ the debate nothing is understood, except Arnab Goswami’s shouting.When I heard that republic TV announced top TRP channel,I thought probably I am wrong and not so educated that could hear the debate and understand it.Through out any program only one voice could be heard i.e of Arnab Goswami’s.Now after this disclosure I think I was not wrong.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN BOMBAY.
..
AND WHAT’S THE POLICE COMMISSIONER BLAMING REPUBLIC FOR ???
WTF. How manipulating TRP ratings becomes a criminal issue? How Mumbai police commissioner can take suo moto cognizance without receiving a complaint from advertisers? Even if it is breach of trust, it becomes a civil case. I think Mumbai police commissioner needs to educate himself about the law of the land.
Dude first educate yourself🤣🤣Yo dont know anything about this, quite clearly.
It mean u r trying to teach rules to the CP of Mumbai an IPS officer , go and do the same thing to dongi baba Yogi and PM who fooling the citizens of our country, u try to educate ur self first.
Hey Please Watch Live News Now Story Has Been Flipped. It Was India Today Actually Who is Main Culprit😂😂😂
Liar CP & fake news. Rival’s rejoice will be very short lived
We are with arnab
We support republic
Your campaign against Arnab will not work. You are small people. He is very popular than you think.
I believe Republic.
Keep your backyard clean before you try to clean up others.
I think Janta ka reporter will be bankrupt if that happens. Arnab is their biggest bread earner. Perhaps they can now pursue autobiography of Rhea, Deepika and similar goddesses who have dedicated their lives for poor people. Their selflessness and big heart can only be brought into limelight by such brilliant channels.
Hang this barking dog of RSS
Does he think all the authorities are incompetent. Let them work. Let the law decide and then he can start his barking exercise, if that is necessary. This is just a selfish human (sic) trying to influence the innocent and the likes for personal gains. Justice must prevail even to an animal.