TRP Manipulation Scam: CBI Registers Case On UP Govt's Recommendation; FIR Against Unidentified Persons

The FIR which was registered against unidentified people with charges that included manipulating the TRPs using forged means. Meanwhile, the CBI officials refused to give any further details.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's invention, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday registered an FIR into alleged manipulation of Television Rating Points (TRP) on the basis of a reference from the state Police. According to reports, the case, which was earlier registered at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on a complaint of an advertising company promoter, was handed over to the CBI by the Uttar Pradesh government. Taking prompt action, the CBI has registered an FIR against unidentified persons, UP Police told news agency PTI adding that primary allegations relate to manipulation of TRPs on a payment. The FIR which was registered against unidentified people with charges that included manipulating the TRPs using forged means. Meanwhile, the CBI officials refused to give any further details. TRP or Television Rating Points of a channel or programme are used to measure popularity by advertising agencies which affect pricing. The points are calculated in India by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) using a device installed in over 45,000 households across the country called "Bar-O-Meter". The device collects data about a programme or channel watched by members of these household on the basis of which weekly ratings are issued hy BARC. Recently, Mumbai Police had registered a case of TRP manipulation against some mainstream and regional media organisation following which the ratings were reportedly suspended by BARC. ALSO READ | Punjab Farm Bills: Know How Article 254(2) Of Indian Constitution Provide States To Negate Central Acts Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, last week, had claimed that Republic TV and two Marathi channels -- Box Cinema and Fakt Marathi, whose owners have been arrested -- manipulated TRP for financial benefits. However, the Republic Media Network has denied all allegations so far. On October 17, Republic TV's owner ARG Outlier Media and its Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami moved the Bombay High Court seeking to quash the FIR lodged against the channel in the alleged fake TRP scam by the Mumbai Police. The petition has also sought a direction to transfer the case to the CBI to ensure a fair and transparent probe and also on the ground that the case will have pan-India repercussions, reported news agency PTI. The Mumbai Crime Branch registered the FIR under various sections of Indian Penal Code for cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy against Republic TV and its senior officials and also against two other local regional channels.