Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai 

Mumbai, Oct 22: Police on Wednesday, October 21 have named two more TV channels in the fake Television Rating Points (TRP) scam. While one is a news channel, the other one is an entertainment channel, an official stated, according to news agency PTI.

"During the investigation, it came to light that these two channels were also involved in fixing the TRP by paying money to households for watching them," he said.

"While investigating the fake TRP racket, the police have added fresh sections of IPC, including 174, 179, 201, 204," he added.

The police had earlier registered an offence under section 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 120(B), 34 of IPC in the case. According to the official, the crime branch has submitted the letter to the court on adding the new sections.

Three channels, including Republic TV, are currently being investigated following the allegations of manipulating ratings and using them to spread fake narratives and gain ad revenues.

The probe team on Wednesday recorded statements of Republic TV CFO S Sundaram and executive editor Niranjan Narayanswami, the official said.

The alleged fake TRP scam came to light when rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) filed a complaint with the police through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain channels were rigging TRP numbers to lure advertisers.

It was alleged that some residents, whose houses had meters for collecting data of viewership installed, were being bribed to tune into a particular channel.