New Delhi: The Mumbai Police on Tuesday filed a chargesheet in connection with the alleged TRP (television rating points) scam that had come to light last month, in which Republic TV and two other channels have been named.The city police’s Crime Intelligence Unit, which is investigating the case, submitted the chargesheet before a magistrate’s court, an official quoted as saying by a report published in The Telegraph.So far 12 persons, including Republic TV’s distribution head and owners of two other channels, have been arrested in connection with the case, the official added.Last month, rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) lodged a complaint against certain TV channels through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain TV channels were manipulating TRPs. Hansa’s work relates to installing barometers at sample households to record viewership data. Based on it, TRPs are calculated, providing information on how many viewers have watched a particular channel and how long it has been watched.Also read: ‘TRP Scam’: BARC Accuses Republic TV of Misrepresenting Private CommunicationTRPs play a crucial role for television channels as advertising revenues of channels depend on it.At a press conference last month, Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh alleged that Republic TV and two Marathi channels, Box Cinema and Fakt Marathi, were rigging TRPs. Republic TV and others against whom allegations have been levelled have denied any wrongdoing on their part.Republic TV’s chief executive officer (CEO) and two chief operating officers (COO) and chief finance officer (CFO) were summoned by the police for questioning in connection with the case.The police also recorded the statements of Republic TV’s executive editor Niranjan Narayanswamy and senior executive editor Abhishek Kapoor.Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government last month withdrew its “general consent” given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate cases in the state, following CBI taking up a case registered by the Uttar Pradesh Police against “unknown” channels and persons in relation with TRP scam.On the other hand, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a money laundering complaint in the alleged TRP rigging scam, currently being probed by the Mumbai Police.The CBI has filed an enforcement case information report (ECIR), similar to a police FIR, as per the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, according to official sources. This comes soon after Mumbai Police named Republic TV, in addition to other channels and individuals.
