WhatsApp chats with Arnab Goswami mere 'loose talks', former BARC head tells Bombay HC

Referring to the recently leaked WhatsApp chat transcripts as mere 'loose talk', former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta has applied for bail in the Mumbai High Court on Monday.

Dasgupta made the submission before a bench of Justice PD Naik, which was hearing the former media executive's bail plea. The chats allegedly depict extensive discussions pertaining to TRP manipulation and have also elicited outrage for depicting Goswami's alleged knowledge of sensitive government matters.

Dasgupta's lawyer pointed out that the alleged transcripts needed corroboration and that they were not admissible as evidence. The former BARC CEO was arrested on charges of alleged TRP manipulation in the TRP scam case that was exposed during October last year, embroiling several major news channels. The police have alleged that Goswami bribed Dasgupta with "lakhs of rupees" to ramp up Republic TV's viewership.

Referring to former BARC COO, Romil Ramgarhia who has also been implicated in the case, Dasgupta's counsel pointed out that even he had received bail despite being directly involved in the TRP manipulation. Furthermore, the purported WhatsApp chats took place between Dasgupta and Goswami long before Republic TV was formed, he alleged.

He also refuted charges of violating the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act as the accused offences did not amount to criminal offences.