Arnab Goswami paid lakhs to former BARC CEO to boost TRP, says Mumbai Police

Mumbai: Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami had allegedly paid "lakhs of rupees" to the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), Partho Dasgupta, to "increase" the Television Rating Points (TRPs) of the two Republic news channels, the Mumbai Police said in a remand report that was submitted before a court on Monday, December 28.

This is for the first time the city police have named Goswami for his involvement in the alleged Television Rating Points (TRPs) manipulation scam. Dasgupta, on the other hand, was arrested in connection with the case on December 24 and was last week remanded to judicial custody till December 28.

The police told the magistrate's court that "When Dasgupta was the Broadcast Audience Research Council, or BARC, CEO, Arnab Goswami and other accused in the case conspired to illegally increase the TRPs of Republic Bharat Hindi news channel. In order to do that, Goswami on several occasions paid Dasgupta lakhs of rupees, it has been established in the investigation."

It is alleged by the police that Goswami had met Dasgupta several times to discuss ratings for his channels-Republic Bharat Hindi news channel and Republic TV English news channel.

While the investigation was going on, it was established that Goswami had "made payments worth lakhs in cash, including once in US dollars," said Sachin Vaze, the assistant police inspector.

Dasgupta had allegedly used this money to procure jewellery and other expensive items which were confiscated from his residence earlier this month.

The Mumbai Police's Crime Branch had sought further custody of Dasgupta, making claims that he was the 'mastermind' of the alleged TRP scam. The magistrate has extended Dasgupta's police custody till December 30.

Goswami and Dasgupta had worked together at Times Now.

In the month of October, the Mumbai Police had registered an FIR alleging the manipulation of TRPs by TV channels- Republic TV, Box Cinemas and Fakt Marathi. In November, the police had filed a charge sheet against 12 persons for allegedly tampering with the 'BAR-o-meters' installed at homes to measure TRPs.

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