After 3 days of a First Investigation Report(FIR) being lodged in Lucknow over the alleged Television Rating Points(TRP) scam, UP police have handed over the case to Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI).
The FIR accused several channels and broadcasting companies of manipulating and tampering TRP with the help of “certain known accused.”
The FIR was initially registered against unknown persons at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on October 17, based on a complaint from the regional director of an advertising company, Kamal Sharma.
The alleged TRP scam was first acknowledged by Mumbai Police earlier this month when they registered a case against four channels including Republic TV.
As many as eight people have been arrested in the said scam by the Mumbai Police.
Meanwhile, Republic TV chief, Arnab Goswami, in his petition before Bombay High Court, sought the transfer of the Mumbai Police case to the CBI. To which, the Mumbai Police had said that they would not be surprised to CBI take over the case on the backdrop that the scam transcends boundaries set by states.
Broadcast Audience Research Council is the civic body responsible for monitoring the process of calculating the TRP ratings. Over 550 channesl and currently being handled by BARC.
Reacting to the alleged scam, BARC had expressed disappointment at misrepresentation of its communication by Republic Network.
“BARC India is highly disappointed with the actions of the Republic Network by disclosing private and confidential communications and misrepresenting the same. BARC India reiterates that it has not commented on the ongoing investigation and without prejudice to BARC India’s rights, it expresses its dismay at the actions of the Republic Network,” it had said.
The Mumbai Crime Branch had registered an FIR against Republic TV and two Marathi channels under various sections of Indian Penal Code for cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.