Ex-BARC CEO Partho denied bail in TRP case

A sessions court here on Wednesday rejected the bail application of former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta, who was arrested last month in the TRP rigging case.

The bail was sought on the grounds that no TV channel or advertiser has filed a cheating complaint against him in the TRP rigging case. His advocates Arjun Thakur and Shardul Thakur had argued that advertisers are not naive to go solely by TRP as they know that it comprises a small sample and pointed out that no advertiser had complained to police either. They had also informed the court that his health is in fragile condition, with him being admitted in JJ hospital on 15 January in an unconscious condition due to his blood sugar shooting up and the condition may recur if he is continued to be lodged in jail.

Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray assisted by advocates Ankur Pahade and Sai Sawant opposed the bail plea and told the court TRP was manipulated to get more advertisement. The prosecution also told the court that he breached the norms issued by TRAI.