TRP fraud case: Two more channels under the scanner

The ongoing investigation into the TRP manipulation case has turned up two more channels, News Network and Mahaamovie, who are suspected of participating in rigging ratings.

Two arrested Hansa Research group employees, Dinesh Vishwakarma and RamjiVerma had made statements alleging that the two channel's had sent agenda to them in order to bribe households to artificially inflate channel ratings.

Four more charges have been added to the case, including sections addressing destruction of documents to prevent it being produced as evidence and disappearance of evidence. Sections 179 (refusing to answer public servant authorised to question), 174 (non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant) are the other sections which have been raised.

It is alleged by certain officials involved in the investigation that the addition of new sections is due to non-cooperation from certain members of channels which are under the scanner.

The statements of Republic TV CFO Shiva Sundaram, its distribution head Ghanshyam Singh and executive editor NiranjanNarayanswamy were recorded by the police on Wednesday. Sundaram was summoned again on Thursday.

The case had shot to prominence after Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh accused Republic TV of having participated in TRP fraud which has led to a series of back-and-forth between the two.

Republic TV, staunchly maintained its innocence, and alleged a conspiracy by the Mumbai Police to defame the channel for pointing out mistakes made their investigation team in in the case of Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

Yesterday,the Mumbai High Court refused a plea by Hansa Research Group to grant ad interim relief, seeking a permanent injunction order against Republic TV which would prevent them from showing any internal documents related to the case.

The suit filed by Hansa reads: "Mr. Goswami referred to the particular document, showed parts and portions of the document on the screen again and again, and claimed that the name of Republic TV was not mentioned in the said report but the name of some other channel was there."

This unofficial internal document was not approved through proper channels and was broadcast without their permission, claimed Hansa Group in the suit.