Mumbai Police Chief: Republic TV, 2 other channels manipulated TRPs

Mumbai Police has claimed to have unearthed a fake TRP scandal and has accused Republic TV and two other Marathi channels of manipulation. 

Briefing the media, Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said employees of these channels could be summoned soon. 

Param Bir Singh said, "Two people were arrested, produced in court and the Mumbai Police have got their custody. One accused has been arrested with Rs 20 lakhs seized while Rs 8.5 lakh has been found in a bank locker."

Also read: Coronavirus: Bars in Kerala see no opening in sight as COVID-19 cases increase

According to the police chief, the Broadcast Audience Research Council used a agency called Hamsa Research Group which installed 2000 meters that tested these ratings in Mumbai.

BARC has given confidential contract for monitoring these barometers.

The police commissioner claimed that the accused channels bribed some households and ask them to run the at their home. 

Param Bir Singh said that the findings of the investigation will be forwarded to the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

REPUBLIC DENIES MUMBAI POLICE CLAIMS

Meanwhile, Republic TV has refuted the allegations and asked the Mumbai Police Commissioner to apologise. The channel has also threatened to file criminal defamation case against Param Bir Singh.

"Param Bir Singh has made false allegations against Republic TV because we have questioned him in the Sushant Singh Rajput case investigation. Republic TV will file a criminal defamation case against Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. There is not a single BARC report that mentions Republic TV," Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami said.

"Param Bir Singh's investigation in the Sushant Singh Rajput case is under a cloud and this is a desperate measure because of Republic TV's reportage on Palghar, the Sushant Singh Rajput case or any other case," he added.

• Mumbai Police
• Param Bir Singh
• Republic TV
• TRPs