TRP fraud probe: Mumbai Police files charge sheet against 12 accused | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

TRP fraud probe: Mumbai Police files charge sheet against 12 accused

Hindustan Times, Mumbai | ByCharul Shah and Manish K Pathak
Nov 25, 2020 01:29 AM IST

Mumbai police began the probe after ratings agency BARC filed a complaint through Hansa, alleging that certain television channels were rigging TRP numbers

The Mumbai Police on Tuesday submitted a charge sheet at the metropolitan magistrate court, running into 1,400 pages, against the 12 accused in connection with television rating point (TRP) fraud case.

Representational Image.(File photo)
Representational Image.(File photo)

The charge sheet includes the statements of 140 witnesses along with relevant documents. Mumbai Police have listed the names of the owners and directors of the two news channels as wanted accused in the charge sheet. The police said that their probe would continue and they would submit supplementary charge sheet at a later stage with more evidence.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The accused are facing charges under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 204 (destruction of documentary evidence, 212 (harbouring offender) and 34 (act done with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case was registered with Kandivli police on October 6 after the arrest of Vishal Bhandari, 21, former employee of Hansa Research Private Limited.

Also read | The purpose of TV media measurement

Apart from Bhandari, the police have also arrested Bompalli Rao Mistry,44; Shirish Pattanshetty, 44; Narayan Sharma, 47; Vinay Tripathi, 29; Umesh Mishra, 32; Ramji Sharma, 41; Dineshkumar Vishwakarma, 37; Harish Patil, 45; Abhishekh Kolwade, 35; Ashish Chaudhary, 50; and Ghanshyam Singh. 44.

Singh, who is Republic TV’s distribution head, was the last to be arrested. He was arrested on November 10 from his Thane home.

“Pattanshetty, Sharma and Mishra are out on bail. We have arrested republic TV representative and distribution head Ghanshyam Singh in the case and the other accused are connected to him. Mishra and Chaudhary have turned approvers in the case. The investigation in the TRP case will continue,” assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze, who is part of the probe and also heading the CIU of the crime branch, said.

The police began the probe after ratings agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) filed a complaint through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain television channels were rigging TRP numbers. The police then discovered that some channels were allegedly paying bribes to boost their TRP fraudulently to increase their advertising revenue.

Bhandari allegedly told the police that it was an old modus operandi to pay households where barometers for recording TRP were installed to keep tuned to certain channels, to help enhance rating of the channels fraudulently. Hansa is one of BARC’s vendors on engagement with panel homes or people’s meters.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On