SC refuses Republic TV's plea in TRP scam

Mumbai Police said that Republic TV has been mishandling the process of law by conducting programmes in the case and “intimidating the witnesses”.
SC refuses Republic TV's plea in TRP scam

Mumbai: In a recent development related to TRP scam, the SC on Thursday refused to entertain Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami's petition against summons issued by the Mumbai Police.

As per reports, Justice DY Chandrachud headed the three-judge bench in the case and stated that a petition has already been filed in high court and entertaining this petition without high court sends message that they don't have faith in high courts.

He said "One must have faith in the Bombay High Court," said Justice Chandrachud.

Justice Chandrachaud also said "Like any other citizens faces predicament of probe under CrPC must go to the high court," 

While declining the plea, the court further said that it was "concerned" over recent interviews by police commissioners to the media.

Without referring to the case, Justice DY Chandrachud stated "We are concerned with the tendency of Police commissioner to give interviews now a days," 

However, Mumbai Police stated that in the name of freedom of expression, anyone cannot ask for exemption from any criminal investigation.

Mumbai Police has also argued that an accused person cannot decide or dictate the modalities of the investigation.

They also said that Republic TV has been mishandling the process of law by conducting programmes in the case and "intimidating the witnesses".

In their affidavit filed in the top court, Mumbai police mentioned that "Republic TV's demand to transfer the probe to CBI is misconceived. Republic TV wants to thwart the probe into fudging of TRP ratings. Media trial is against free and fair probe. Arnab Goswami (Republic TV's editor-in-chief) is holding programmes where this case is debated at length and contacting witnesses and interfering and intimidating the witnesses,"

Republic TV's editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami had also informed they will sue Mumbai Police for the allegations and that there is "not a single BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) report that mentioned Republic TV".

"The people of India know the truth. BARC has not mentioned Republic in any complaint," Goswami said.

It is to be mentioned that the fake TRP scam came to fore when ratings agency BARC filed a complaint through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain television channels were rigging TRP numbers.

Top Headlines

No stories found.
Sentinel Assam
www.sentinelassam.com