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Republic TV TRP manipulation scam

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The TRP manipulation scam of 2020 involved the alleged inflation by some television channels of their viewership ratings. The investigation was based on a complaint filed with the Mumbai Police.[1] The 70% revenue for television channels coming from advertising highlights the importance of Target Rating Point (TRP) for television channels.[2]

History

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In October 2020, Mumbai Police announced that they had received complaints of channels fraudulently inflating their ratings. An investigation was launched into Republic TV's viewership ratings.[3][4][5] Fakt Marathi, and Box Cinema TV were also charged in the FIR.[6]

The police conducted an audit into the accounts of the ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd (owner of Republic TV and Republic Bharat). It showed that the TRPs and viewership of its Hindi channel, Republic Bharat, were high from the first month of its launch in 2016.[1] The police alleged that the channel inflated its ratings by bribing low-income individuals, including people who did not comprehend English, to keep their televisions turned on and tuned to Republic TV. With an inflated TRP, ARG Outlier Media was able to bargain for higher revenue from advertisers.[1] Arnab Goswami denied the allegations and accused the Mumbai Police of retaliating against the channel's recent criticism of their activities.[7][8][9][10][11]

On 21 October, the investigation became a country-wide case, potentially covering every news channel in India investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). [12][13][14] TV Today Network Ltd ( Aaj Tak and India Today) was fined 5 lakh by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) for viewership manipulation.[15] The Bombay High Court directed TV Today Network to pay a 5 lakh fine, or face coercive steps by the BARC Disciplinary Council (BDC).[16][17]

On 5 November 2020, Hansa Group asked the Bombay High Court to rule against Crime Branch and sought the transfer of the probe to CBI, claiming that the Mumbai Police Crime Branch had been adopting pressure tactics to coerce its employees to issue a statement that a document flashed as "Hansa Report" by Republic TV was a fake document. The plea stated that the petitioners were held at the Crime Branch for long hours and threatened with arrest and were repeatedly pressed to make a false statement. Police officers were listed as respondents in the petition.[18][19] The Supreme court of India rejected the plea from the channel to protect its employees from arrest.

On 13 December 2020, Republic TV's CEO Vikas Khanchandani was arrested by Mumbai police. Later on 16 December, he was granted bail by a sessions court. While granting the bail, the court took exception over the haste in which Mumbai Police arrested Khanchandani and expressed displeasure over the manner in which the police chose to arrest him a day before his plea for anticipatory bail was scheduled for hearing.[20]

Republic TV CFO Sundaram got multiple pre-arrest bails.[21][22][23]

On 22 June 2021 Mumbai Police named Arnab Goswami, Republic TV chief, as a participant. The police named Goswami and four others from ARG Outlier Media (that owns Republic TV) in their 1800 page supplementary charge sheet submitted in the Esplanade Metropolitan Magistrate Court.[24]

In September 2021, Sachin Vaze, a Maharashtra police officer currently under arrest, informed the Enforcement Directorate that Anil Deshmukh, the former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP leader, had politically instructed him to arrange for the arrest of Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami in the TRP rigging case.[25][26]

Enforcement Directorate's Chargesheet

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The ED stated that it found no evidence implicating Republic TV or its Hindi counterpart, R Bharat, in the alleged manipulation of TRPs. This conclusion was based on a lack of digital or testimonial evidence supporting the claims against the network. It also criticised the forensic audit report used by the Mumbai Police as the basis for its accusations. The ED described the report as "superficial" and limited in scope, arguing that it failed to provide substantial proof of Republic TV’s involvement in the alleged scam.[27]

ED further revealed that its investigation into two other news channels, News Nation and India Today, is still ongoing, suggesting that further findings may emerge as the inquiry progresses.[28]

Aftermath

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BARC has renewed their ratings since Week 10 of 2022. This has been undertaken after the industry-wide consultation process which resulted in the Augmented Data Reporting Standards for News and Special Interest genres.[29]

Closure

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A court in Mumbai observed that the case against Republic TV was built on fabricated evidence and coerced testimonies. Several witnesses testified under oath that their statements were recorded under duress by investigating officers. [30]

The Maharashtra state government, in its application seeking the closure of the case, acknowledged that the allegations were baseless. The government admitted that most of the evidence was falsified and many individuals were named as accused without any concrete linkage to the alleged crime.[31][32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Ali, Ahmed (15 December 2020). "Republic's TRPs high from 1st month, used to get revenue: Cops | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Explained: TRP and its loopholes". The Hindu. 8 October 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  3. ^ "What is TRP scam: All you need to know". The Times of India. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  4. ^ "TRP scam: IT panel, I&B Ministry agree that changes needed in legislation, say reports". Scroll.in. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Mumbai Police Names Arnab Goswami". Live law. 22 June 2021.
  6. ^ Gokhale, Omkar (20 October 2020). "TRP case: Issue summons to Arnab before arraigning him, HC tells Mumbai Police". The Indian Express.
  7. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey; Kumar, Hari; Bhagat, Shalini Venugopal (9 October 2020). "Indian Police Accuse Popular TV Station of Ratings Fraud". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  8. ^ Pathak, Manish K (9 October 2020). "Mumbai cops take first step in probe against Arnab Goswami's Republic TV". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  9. ^ Singh, Sunilkumar M (9 October 2020). Roy, Divyanshu Dutta (ed.). "Republic TV CFO Summoned By Mumbai Police Tomorrow Over Ratings Scam". NDTV. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  10. ^ Ramnath, Nandini (13 October 2020). "Why Big Bollywood has launched a potentially damaging battle against Times Now and Republic TV". Scroll.in.
  11. ^ "34 Bollywood Producers Move HC Against Irresponsible Remarks by Republic TV, Times Now". The Wire.
  12. ^ Tiwary, Deeptiman; Gokhale, Omkar (21 October 2020). "Twist in TRP case: UP Police file own FIR; case with CBI". The Indian Express. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  13. ^ Gunasekar, Arvind; Jain, Sreenivasan (21 October 2020). "CBI Moves To Investigate Fake Ratings Case As Complaint Is Filed In UP". NDTV. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Republic Media Network gets another notice from Mumbai Police". 31 October 2020.
  15. ^ "TRP Scam: India Today's confirms, 'BARC imposed fine of Rs 5 lakh'". News Track. 10 October 2020.
  16. ^ Joshi, Neha (23 October 2020). "Pay 5 lakh fine if you want interim protection: Bombay High Court directs TV Today Network in plea against BARC order". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news.
  17. ^ Kashyap, Nitish (23 October 2020). "Bombay High Court Directs TV Today Network To Deposit Rs.5 Lakh To Grant Interim Protection In Plea Against BARC". www.livelaw.in.
  18. ^ Emmanuel, Meera (5 November 2020). "TRP scam: Hansa Research moves Bombay HC, claims harassment by Crime Branch to make false statements against Republic TV". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news.
  19. ^ "TRP case: Hansa moves HC against Crime Branch". 5 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchadani granted bail in TRP manipulation case". indian express. 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Won't arrest Republic TV CFO till Tuesday: Mumbai Police to court". indianexpress.com. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  22. ^ "TRP Rigging Case: 3 Republic TV Employees Get Anticipatory Bail". news18. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  23. ^ "trp-scam-3-republic-tv-employees-get-anticipatory-bail". indiantelevision.com. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Mumbai Police Names Arnab Goswami". Live law. 22 June 2021.
  25. ^ "'Anil Deshmukh Wanted Arnab Goswami Arrested' Reveals Sachin Vaze In His Statement To ED". BW Legal World. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  26. ^ "TRP case: Ex-police officer Sachin Vaze's confession vindicates Republic". Adgully. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  27. ^ NETWORK, LIVELAW NEWS (22 September 2022). "ED Clean Chit To Republic TV, R Bharat In TRP Scam; Probe Against India Today Ongoing". www.livelaw.in. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  28. ^ B, Sai Ram (29 September 2022). "ED's chargesheet exposes irregularities of Times Now and India Today, no evidence against Republic". News Tap One. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  29. ^ Pandey, Devesh K. (17 March 2022). "BARC India resumes ratings for individual news channels". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  30. ^ "TRP Scam: "You have no evidence against Republic TV after 3 months:" Bombay High Court to Mumbai Police". TheBar and Bench. 17 March 2021.
  31. ^ "'Fake TRP' case against Republic, Arnab Goswami allowed to be withdrawn". News Desk. Hindustan Times. New Delhi, India: HT Media. 6 March 2024. ISSN 0972-0243. OCLC 231696742. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  32. ^ Sai Ram B, News Tap One (6 March 2024). "Republic TV Vindicated as Mumbai Court Withdraws Fake TRP Scam Case Against Arnab Goswami". NewsTapOne. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
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