Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Dec 13: In another major development in the ongoing investigation into the television rating points (TRP) scam, the Mumbai police on Sunday December 13 arrested Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani.
He is the 13th person to be arrested in this connection. His arrest comes shortly after the Supreme Court turned down a plea from ARG Outlier Media Private Limited, which owns the Republic Media Network, seeking protection for the group and its employees from arrest.
In November, Republic TV's distribution head Ghanshyam Singh was also placed under arrest in this connection.
The fake TRP scam came to light in October following a complaint filed by Hansa Research official Nitin Deokar. The complaint had alleged that certain television channels were rigging TRP numbers.
As per the reports into the matter, the police found that Republic TV which boasts of having the highest ratings, was manipulating the ratings to get high advertising rates by bribing the households where the monitoring machines were set. It was found that these households were being paid to keep certain channels on in return for some money which ranged from Rs 400 to Rs 500 a month.
The Mumbai police crime branch has filed a 1,400-page chargesheet in the TRP scam case and attached the statements of 140 witnesses, including forensic auditors and members of BARC or Broadcast Audience Research Council, which assesses ratings.
Republic TV is among three other channels who are under investigation for the alleged fraud case.
However, Republic TV termed the arrest as 'illegal', saying he was nabbed from his home around 3 am without serving proper papers.
Khanchandani is likely to be produced before a holiday court later in the day, even as Republic TV initiated a campaign demanding his release soon after his arrest.
The channel said: "Republic TV issues national appeal for courts to intervene to stop attacks on an independent news organization" with a hashtag, #FreeRepublicCEONow.
The channel said that Khanchandani has already been summoned in the past and subject to interrogation of over 100 hours by the Mumbai Police, and termed it as 'targeting' of the Republic TV.