TRP scam case: Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani arrested in Mumbai

Republic TV Chief Executive Officer Vikas Khanchandani was arrested by Mumbai Police on Sunday in connection with the alleged television ratings manipulation case, NDTV reported. He is the 13th person to be arrested in the case. Khanchandani was arrested from his residence in Mumbai by the police’s Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), a police official told PTI. Republic TV has stated that it will move the holiday court against the arrest. Arnab Goswami, the editor-in-chief of the news channel, condemned the arrest, and was quoted by Mumbai Mirror as saying, “If the matter comes under TRAI [Telecom Regulatory Authority of India], why is the Mumbai Police arresting our CEO Vikas Khanchandani?” he asked. Goswami said that the Supreme Court should take suo motu cognisance of the matter. Earlier, Goswami moved the Bombay High Court  seeking a stay to further investigation by the Mumbai Police in the alleged Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation scam. The petition, filed by Goswami and ARG Outlier Media which owns Republic TV, also alleged that one of the employees of the firm was tortured by the police in custody. It sought protection for all employees from the “malicious witch hunt” allegedly being carried out by the Maharashtra authorities. TRP, measured by recording viewership data at sample households, is crucial for attracting advertisers. The case is based on a complaint filed by the rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain TV channels were rigging TRPs. As per the police, some of these households were being bribed to tune into Republic TV and a few other channels. Republic TV has denied wrongdoing. With inputs from PTI