TRP scam: Bombay HC grants bail to ex-BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta
Former Broadcast Audience Research Council CEO Partho Dasgupta was arrested on December 24 last year in connection with the alleged TRP fraud case.
FollowThe Bombay High Court today granted bail to former Broadcast Audience Research Council CEO Partho Dasgupta, who was arrested on December 24 last year in connection with the alleged TRP fraud case.
As per the bail provision, Dasgupta will have to visit the Mumbai Police Crime Branch on the first Saturday of every month for six months.Â
The prosecution had opposed the bail plea by contending that Dasgupta was the kingpin of the scam and was in an influential position to tamper with evidence and witnesses.
The prosecution listed his WhatsApp conversations with Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and relied on the BARC forensic audit report to seek denial of bail.
Dasgupta's counsel dismissed the WhatsApp conversations as loose-talk and contended that his client deserved bail as other accused in the case had secured the same.
Dasgupta is accused of receiving allegedly kickback from Republic TV for manipulating TRPs for the channel and take it to the number one position.
The TRP scam first came to light in October when the Mumbai Police Crime Branch registered an FIR in this regard. The cops have accused 15 people of being part of the conspiracy. The FIR was filed based on the BARC forensic audit report that accused several news channels of manipulating TRPs.
