Mumbai police are investigating Republic TV for allegedly manipulating TRP.
New Delhi:
Mumbai police have objected to a petition filed by Republic TV requesting an investigation by CBI into an alleged manipulation audience rating scam, saying the channel was attempting to thwart police investigations in the case.
In an advance petition filed in the Supreme Court last night, Mumbai police said Republic TV is abusing the process of the law by making programs in the case and “intimidating witnesses.”
“Republic TV’s demand to transfer the investigation to CBI is wrong. Republic TV wants to thwart the investigation into the manipulation of TRP’s ratings. Arnab Goswami (Republic TV editor-in-chief) is running shows where this case it is in-depth debating and contacting witnesses and interfering and intimidating witnesses, “police said in the affidavit.
A three-judge bench of Judges DY Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee will hear Republic TV’s petition via video link today.
The Mumbai police also upheld the channel’s claim on freedom of expression in their affidavit to the high court. “The right to freedom of expression cannot be invoked in an alleged crime. The right under article 19 (1) to freedom of expression cannot be a shield against investigation,” he said.
Police also said several officials from various channels have been subpoenaed in the case.
In addition to Republic TV, the Mumbai police are investigating the role of two other channels, Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema, as part of their investigation into the alleged manipulation of ratings.
The investigation into the alleged false ratings case is based on a complaint from Hansa, a private company involved in the audience evaluation.
Republic TV, which claims the highest TRP or television rating points among news channels, has said it was being targeted for its coverage of the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, where they have questioned the role of the Mumbai police.
The channel’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami said they will sue the Mumbai police over the allegations and that “there is not a single BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) report that mentions Republic TV.” “The people of India know the truth. BARC has not mentioned Republic in any complaint,” he said.
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