In a major relief to Republic TV, its CEO Vikas Khanchandhani has been granted bail by the Mumbai court, in the alleged TRP manipulation scam. Khanchandani was picked from his home on Sunday and was sent to 14-day judicial custody by the Metropolitan Magistrate court at Esplanade on Tuesday.
Khanchandani was the 13th arrest in the case after the alleged scam was busted by the Mumbai Police in October. Earlier, the channel’s head of distribution Ghansham Singh was also arrested in the same case. His name also appeared in the charge sheet prepared by the Mumbai Police department.
The police submitted before the court that the Republic network, in order to increase its TRP, paid Rs 15 lakh monthly to ensure that more viewers watch their channels – Republic TV (English) and Republic Bharat (Hindi). Media reports state that police found the alleged amount in possession of Abhishek Kolawade, accused of taking money from the channel for carrying out activities to increase the viewership and thereby the TRPs of the channel.
After interrogating ARG Outlier AVP Ghanshyam Singh, the police concluded that Singh was allegedly being directed to carry out illegal activities to increase the channel’s ratings by Republic TV COO Priya Mukherjee, who in turn was being instructed by Khanchandani.
Khanchandani’s counsel argued that Khanchandani was targeted because Arnab Goswami is engaged in a dispute with the Maharashtra government for several reasons. It was also pointed out that the arrest was deliberately made on Sunday, a day before his anticipatory bail application was listed for hearing before the Mumbai sessions court, so as to defeat the petition.
The TRP scam was unearthed by Mumbai police on 8 October after BARC filed a complaint through Hansa Research group, alleging that certain television channels were rigging ratings. Hansa had been tasked with installing barometers, which record viewership data at sample households. The charge sheet in the case names 140 witnesses, including forensic auditors and members of BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council), which assesses ratings.
