Mumbai Police opposes ED appearing for Republic TV in TRP scam case

In a hearing at the Mumbai High Court, the Mumbai Police have opposed the move by ARG Outlier Media Pvt. Ltd. to implead the Enforcement Directorate in the petition. Republic TV's advocate Harish Salve submitted that if the findings of the ED differed from that of the Mumbai Police, then there was evidence of malicious intent to frame Republic TV and by extent, anchor Arnab Goswami.

Advocate Kapil Sibal for the Mumbai police strongly opposed the application citing that the ED had "no role" in this case. The bench had convened to hear a writ petition filed by ARG Media challenging the police investigation into the TRP scam case.

Republic TV had previously alleged that the investigation was a witch hunt designed to exact 'revenge' against the channel and its anchors for their criticism of the Mumbai Police investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.

The Television Rating Points scandal broke last October, with the Mumbai Police alleging that certain channels including Republic, India Today, and Fakht Marathi had paid money to manipulate TRP ratings. The Enforcement Directorate had filed a complaint of money laundering in the case.

Fifteen people have been arrested so far including Republic CEO Vikas Khanchandani, former BARC CEO Parth Dasgupta, and two former employees of Hansa Research group. The CFO of India Today was also questioned extensively this week.

The hearing has been adjourned until January 29.