Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 26: Proceedings in the TRP manipulation scam, former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta's lawyer told the Bombay high court that Republic TV's Arnab Goswami was the main person behind the TRP scam.

Upon query, public prosecutor Deepak Thakare said that the additional charge sheet filed in the case had mentioned Dasgupta as the mastermind behind the scam.

After being denied bail from two lower courts, Dasgupta was seeking bail before the high court pointing out that all other co-accused were either released on bail or were granted protection from arrest by the courts. He also argued that Dasgupta's health was fragile and had to be hospitalized on January 15 and was discharged last Friday January 22.

However, public prosecutor Deepak Thakare submitted Dasgupta's health report stating that he was stable, oriented and conscious and if need be he would be shifted to JJ Hospital even if a police escort was not available.

Dasgupta, in a supplementary charge sheet filed told the police that he had received Rs 40 lac from Goswami over a period of three years as well as US $6000 for a holiday in return for tampering with the ratings.

The court adjourned the bail hearing by a week to amend the petition and submit a copy of the supplementary chargesheet.

Declining Dasgupta's bail plea, the additional chief metropolitan magistrate at Esplande Court had earlier said, "The accused is the most influential person who worked as CEO of BARC."