Another key development in the Television Rating Points (TRP) scandal has taken place. Mumbai police on Sunday arrested Republic TV CEO Vikas Khan Chandani after thirteen people have been arrested so far in the case.
Ghanshyam Singh, head of distribution for the western division of Republic TV, was arrested by the police last month and was released on bail earlier this month. Reportedly, Ghanshyam Singh was tormented and assaulted by chakki belt in police custody. Police filed an FIR against Republic TV in October following a complaint by Hansa Research Group, which works for the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).
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The arrest of the top executive happened within five days after the Supreme Court rejected a plea from ARG Outlier Media Private Limited, which runs the Republic Media network. It raised safety concerns and sought security for the group and its employees. But Justice Chandrachud notified that petition against Mumbai police is ambitious is nature and ordered to withdraw it.
Mumbai City Police Commissioner Param Veer Singh said at the time that Republic TV and two other Maratha TV channels were committing scams with fake TRP ratings. On the other hand, Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami accused that they were being discriminated and targeted for pointing out the government’s failure in the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Mumbai Police arrest Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani in alleged TRP manipulation case. #Maharashtra
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2020