Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has told the Bombay High Court that they have found "some evidence" against the Republic TV and the editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami in relation to the Television Rating Points scam case. Mumbai Police further said that therefore, they do not want to grant them any protection from coercive actions.
The Bombay HC adjourned the matter without hearing the arguments during the day. The police, however, agreed to continue the previous assurance of not taking any coercive action till the next date of hearing, which is January 15.
The Bombay HC, without hearing any arguments, adjourned the matter after the counsel of Republic TV told the HC that Harsh Salve, the senior advocate is unable to appear, while the second lawyer cannot come due to medical emergency at home. The lawyer of Mumbai Police, Kapil Sibal agreed to not take any coercive action till January 15.
Sibal further said that they have found evidence against Republic TV and Arnab Goswami through an investigation with Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). He said that the police would submit a report of its inquiry in the TRP scam case on January 15.
The TRP scam case came into light when an official of Hansa Research, Nitin Deokar filed a case with the Mumbai Police alleging that television rating points (TRP) were being manipulated. After a thorough investigation on the issue, the Mumbai Police said that Republic TV, which has the highest ratings, was manipulating their ratings. This was done by bribing the households where monitorings machines were placed just to get higher advertising rates. The household was paid Rs 400 to 500 per month to keep certain channels throughout the month.
However, the Republic TV has said that the alleged accusations are false. They called these accusations a matter of vendetta by the Mumbai Police. The clash between the television channel and Mumbai Police started during the investigation of Sushant Singh Rajput's death case.