TRP is important as the ad revenue of the channels depends on it. (Figurative)
Mumbai:
Mumbai police filed a charge sheet in court on Tuesday for the alleged TRP (television rating points) tampering scam.
The charge sheet was filed in a magistrate court by the police’s Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU), which is investigating the case, an official said.
The criminal branch has so far arrested 12 people, including the head of distribution for Republic TV and owners of two other channels, in connection with the case, he said.
The bogus TRP scam came to light last month when the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) rating agency filed a complaint through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain TV stations were tampering with TRP’s numbers.
Hansa was tasked with installing barometers, which record audience data (which channel has been watched and for how long) in the sample households.
TRP is important as the ad revenue of the channels depends on it.
Last month, Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh claimed that Republic TV and two Marathi channels, Box Cinema and Fakt Marathi, were involved in manipulating the TRPs.
Republic TV and other defendants have denied wrongdoing and tampering with the TRP system.
Previously, the CEO of Republic TV and two chief operating officers (COO) and chief financial officer (CFO) were summoned by the police for questioning in the bogus TRP scam case.
Statements by Republic TV Executive Editor Niranjan Narayanswamy and Senior Executive Editor Abhishek Kapoor were also recorded by the police.
Last month, the government of Maharashtra withdrew its “general consent” granted to the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate cases in the state, after the IWC took over a case registered by the Uttar Pradesh police against channels and individuals. “unknown” for alleged manipulation. by TRP.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) recently filed a money laundering complaint in the alleged TRP tampering scam that is being investigated by the Mumbai Police.
The central investigative agency has submitted an Execution Case Information Report (ECIR) that is equivalent to a police FIR under the provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, official sources said last week.
The ED’s complaint was filed after studying a Mumbai police FIR that was registered in October and that had named the Republic television channel, two Marathi channels and a few other people.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated channel.)
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