Republic TV owners named as accused in TRP case

THE MAGISTRATE’S COURT EXTENDED THE CUSTODY OF THE TWO ACCUSED PERSONS TILL OCTOBER 26

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Police crime branch named the owners of Republic TV, News Nation and Maha Movie and some of their staff as accused in the case of alleged manipulation of television rating points (TRP).

The development came to light on Saturday when the Mumbai Police crime branch, in their remand plea filed before a magistrate’s court seeking extension of custody of two persons arrested in the case, which HT has seen, mentioned that the owners of the TV channels have been named as accused, though the names were withheld.

When asked who the owners of the three channels were, Milind Bharambe, joint commissioner of police (crime) said, “We have not named anyone specific yet.”

The magistrate’s court extended the custody of the two accused persons — Ramji Dudhnath Verma, 41, and Dinesh Pannalal Vishwakarma, 37 — till

October 26. In all, the police have arrested nine people in the case, including the owners of two channels, Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema.

The crime branch found during interrogation that one Abhishek Kothawalem and others associates distributed money to households to watch for the maximum time the five channels, said inspector Sachin Vaze.

“The financial transactions between the arrested persons and those accused have been established. The payments were made to make households where barometers are installed to watch these three channels,” he said.

HT contacted Republic TV’S lawyer but there was no immediate response.