The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), in a sensational disclosure, has declared that there was never a case against the Republic TV network even though Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh went public against the network and which had its owner-anchor Arnab Goswami hopping mad.
As per a report, the BARC has confirmed there never was a case against Republic TV network and there was no malpractice or illegality found against it.
Apparently, Republic Medi network’s CEO Vikas Khanchandani wrote an email to BARC on October 16, 2020, requesting it to confirm if the BARC had found no infringement by Republic TV. In response, the very next day, BARC replied that “if there was any disciplinary action initiated against the ARG Outlier Media Private Ltd, then BARC would’ve communicated the same to you along with necessary documents for your response.”
In essence, this email, the network alleges, proves that the Mumbai Police commissioner had floated an un-factual campaign against it.
Param Bir Singh had held a news conference, accusing Republic TV along with two Marathi news channels of doing a TRP scam. He said after an investigation it was found that money was paid to watch the channel to increase its TRP ratings. Republic countered on the basis of FIR lodged that there was no mention of Republic TV in it. The network is questioning why are they being dragged into the case when they have not been named in the FIR in the first place.
Republic network is questioning why its CEO, COO and senior member of the distribution team, the network’s executive editor as well as senior executive editor have been summoned. In all they were interrogated for 30 hours without any basis, claims the network.
Another report alleges that a police officer part of the probing team in the alleged TRP scam, DCP Nandkumar Thakur, was transferred on October 16 after he had told reporters in an information meeting that there was no evidence against Republic TV.
Incidentally, yesterday, the Mumbai Police had detained Republic’s consulting editor Pradeep Bhandari at the Khar station. This move came despite Bhandari having been granted anticipatory bail by a Mumbai court.
A Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and KM Joseph earlier had also expressed their concern about police officers giving interviews to the media.
