TRP manipulation case: India Today group CFO summoned in Mumbai by ED
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned India Todayâs Group CFO for questioning in connection with the alleged Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation racket. He has been asked to appear in Mumbai, confirmed a senior ED officer.
The EDâs Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) is based on the case filed by Mumbai Police. An ECIR is the equivalent of a police First Information Report (FIR).
On October 8, Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh claimed to have unearthed the alleged case of TRP manipulation and the alleged involvement of several channels. He had also set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case.
Movie channels saw 11% spike in ads in ’20
Media experts said that big properties also helped push up average television viewership with a multiplier effect on movie channels and their ad volumes.
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Movies on television saw an 11% spike in advertising volumes in 2020 as compared to 2019, with the festive months of October and November witnessing the highest share of average ad volumes.
According to data from television advertising measurement firm TAM Media Research, though ads on film channels had been growing between 2016 and 2020, the past year saw the highest share of ad volumes for the genre at 23%.
NEW DELHI: India Today group CFO Dinesh Bhatia has been summoned by the enforcement directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with the alleged TRP scam. Media reports state that he is expected to appear before the investigative agency on Monday. India Today’s name had reportedly appeared in the initial FIR filed by Hansa Research in the case, which was brought to light
A file photo of Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami. | Sujit Jaiswal/AFP
The Mumbai Police on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that they have found more evidence against Republic TV and its Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami in the Television Rating Points manipulation scam,
Live Law reported.
Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal, representing the Mumbai Police, told the bench comprising Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik that they wanted to take coercive action against the accused. The police had earlier agreed to an undertaking that no such action will be taken.
The division bench was hearing a petition filed by AGR Outlier Media Private Limited – the company that runs Republic TV. The plea sought to quash the first information report in the TRP scam case.
MUMBAI: The state government through its counsel told the Bombay high court on Wednesday that it has found “serious evidence” against Arnab Goswami of Republic TV in the TRP manipulation scam and cannot provide an assurance of no coercive action.
The counsel, however, said it will not take any coercive action till January 15, the next day of the hearing of Goswami’s petition seeking quashing of the FIR and against the chargesheet. Following this, the Bombay high court accepted the statement and continued the earlier relief till January 15.
Advocate Niranjan Mundergi for Republic TV said the senior counsel had to rush for a medical emergency in his family. Kapil Sibal, for the state government, said the forensic audit report sought by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) itself has “revealed facts” and added, “Now we have much more serious evidence.” He requested the court to seek a “status report” in the case.