Owner of Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema Arrested By Mumbai Police

Manipulation of 'sampling metering services'

The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) an organisation under the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India measures the TRPs with the help of barometers.

Hansa Research Group is responsible for the installation of barometers. The data on the location of the barometer was confidential and known to Hansa apart from the BARC.

Crime Branch found that 'sampling metering services' are being manipulated by some employees of Hansa. They are paying people to watch particular TV channels. The Branch arrested one Vishal Ved Bhandari. Bhandari revealed that he used to increase the TRP of media channels by offering money to panel homes.

During the interrogation, the homeowners agreed that they had received money to even keep their TV sets switched on to a particular channel, even if they did not want to watch it.

The Press Conference

Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh announced in a Press Conference that the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Borivali has granted custody of the owners of the Marathi channel to the Mumbai Police till October 9.

The owners have been charged with offences under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), he added.

He also stated that the Mumbai Police is presently investigating the amount which was received for manipulating the TRP ratings. Based on these investigations, they will simultaneously interrogate the advertisers to find out if they were conspiring in the crime or victims of the crime.

Republic TV's Response

One of the channels that is being investigated is Republic TV. However, the channel has questioned the entire investigation. The channel asked why was it being investigated when the only channel named in the FIR is India Today.

Mumbai Police issued a notice to BARC on October 7. In the notice, it said Vishal Ved Bhandari who was arrested has claimed that he manipulated barometers to watch Republic TV for monetary consideration. Republic TV's name is mentioned only in the notice given the BARC under Section 91 of CRPC.