October 26, 2020 5:30:32 pm
The Mumbai Police Crimes Division informed the Metropolitan Magistrates Court on Saturday that the owners and other officials affiliated with Republic Media Network, News Nation, and Mahamovie have been named as defendants in the alleged TRP scam and are wanted by your role in the case.
Following multiple FIRs brought by Mumbai Police in an alleged PRT manipulation case against Republic journalists, the Editors Guild of India issued a press release on Monday saying that an investigation must not become a tool to suppress the media rights.
“We do not wish to influence the authorities’ investigation, even if we recognize that it has the potential to provide much-needed transparency about the manipulation of popularity and the creation of ‘proceeds of crime’, as claimed by the police; but the victimization of journalists must stop immediately. The use of arbitrary state power is not and has never been in the interest of working journalists, ”said the Guild.
“This confrontation between the Mumbai police and the television channel is unprecedented and threatens the fragile but important to maintain the balance between the freedom of the media and the imperative that it resides within the rule of law. The right to freedom of expression does not mean a license to promote hate speech, ”the statement read.
The Editors Guild also criticized Republic TV for its alleged manipulation of TRP, as well as for ‘very nervous behavior’ during coverage of the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
The Publishers Guild of India has issued a statement regarding FIRs that have been brought against journalists from Republic TV. pic.twitter.com/tA4RFKDaBX
– Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) October 26, 2020
“It is time for the channel to behave responsibly and not compromise the safety of its journalists or damage the collective credibility of the media. The police must ensure that their investigation does not harm the station’s journalists or make arrests. And that the investigation does not become a tool to suppress the rights of the media, “said Editors Guild.
The Mumbai Police Crimes Division informed the Metropolitan Magistrates Court on Saturday that the owners and other officials affiliated with Republic Media Network, News Nation, and Mahamovie have been named as defendants in the alleged TRP scam and are wanted by your role in the case. The names of these people were not released. Police informed the court that their roles were determined during the questioning of those arrested in connection with the alleged artificial increase in TRP numbers.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said a couple of weeks ago that the police are investigating a TRP manipulation scam (Television Rating Points) by tampering with the devices used by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, which is mandated to measure television audience in India.
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