On Sunday, after an early morning raid, Republic media network’s CEO Vikas Kanchandani was arrested for having a link in manipulating Television Rating Point (TRP), a day before an anticipatory bail hearing.
The arrest of the CEO comes less than a week after the Supreme Court turned away a plea from ARG Outlier Media Private Limited, which owns the Republic Media network, expecting protection for the group and its employees.
Recently as per the BARC and the Hansa group complaint on #TRPSCAM a few arrests were made and we all are aware of the whole #RepublicTV episode
But
In that complaint #IndiaToday is also namedSo, why wasn’t India Today pulled up by the police as well?
Why? https://t.co/fYHTuaZK1A— Rahul Singh Thakur (मोदी का परिवार) (@Rahul_thakur8) December 13, 2020
Khanchandani will be produced in the court today. He was formerly questioned by the investigators two times. Milind Bharambhe said, joint commissioner of police(crime).
“This petition is an ambitious ab. You want Maharashtra Police not to arrest any employee and transfer the cases to CBI. You better withdraw this,” Justice DY Chandrachud had told the group, which had blamed the Maharashtra Police of “hounding” the media house, it’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and its employees.
During the crime branch’s investigation, it was uncovered that some cable operators had used dual LCN (Landing Channel Number) technology which let viewing of one channel on two-channel numbers at a time.
The Republic officials also joined with cable operators to fix LCN and LCN promotion. Khanchandani was aware that he was part of Republic’s private WhatsApp group where talks about LCN and Promotion LCN discussions took place, police sources said.
Republic TV and other networks have denied any wrongdoing.
SO FAR
The fake TRP scam was unveiled in October when rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) filed a complaint through Hansa Research Group, that professes that certain television channels were tampering with TRP numbers.
Ghanshyam Singh-Western region distribution head was arrested last month in link with the alleged scam. Though, granted bail earlier this month.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Mumbai Police has arrested a total of 13 persons in the same.
While Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami moved the Bombay high court last week seeking a stay to further investigation by the Mumbai Police in the TRP manipulation scam.
Seeking protections for all employees from the “malicious witch hunt” being carried out by the Maharashtra authorities.