Mumbai police arrested Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani on Sunday in connection with their investigation into the alleged Television Rating Points (TRP) tampering scam.
Milind Bharambhe, Deputy Police Commissioner (Crime) confirmed the arrest. Khanchandani will appear on the court today. Previously, investigators questioned him twice.
During the investigation of the criminal branch, it was revealed that some cable operators had used dual LCN (landing channel number) technology that allowed one channel to be viewed on two channel numbers at the same time.
Republic TV officials also contacted cable operators to arrange promotion of LCN and LCN. Khanchandani knew it all as he was part of Republic’s internal WhatsApp group where discussions about LCN and LCN Promotion took place, police sources said.
The bogus TRP scam came to light in October when the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) rating agency filed a complaint through the Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain television channels were tampering with TRP’s numbers.
Hansa is one of BARC’s suppliers that works with panel houses or people meters.
TRP, measured by recording audience data in sample households, is crucial to attracting advertisers.
According to the police, some of these households were being bribed to tune into Republic TV and some other channels.
Republic TV has denied the wrongdoing.
Another employee of the channel, the head of distribution for the western region Ghanshyam Singh, was arrested last month in connection with the alleged scam. He was released on bail earlier this month.
The Mumbai Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) has so far arrested a total of 13 people in the case.
Meanwhile, Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami moved last week to the Bombay high court seeking a stay for further investigation by Mumbai police in the TRP manipulation scam.
The petition, filed by Goswami and ARG Outlier Media, owner of Republic TV, also alleged that one of the firm’s employees was tortured by police in custody.
He requested protection for all employees of the “malicious witch hunt” allegedly being carried out by the Maharashtra authorities.
Last Monday, the Supreme Court had refused to receive a statement filed by ARG Outlier Media Private Limited, owner of the Republic Media network, seeking protection for the group and its employees in the cases brought against them in Maharashtra.
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