In a plea filed by TV Today Network, which runs India Today channel, against an order of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) before the Bombay High Court, the court directed the media giant to deposit the fine of Rs 5 lakh imposed by BARC order in order to avail interim protection from possible coercive action. According to a report of Bar and Bench, TV Today had approached the court seeking directions to quash the order of BARC Disciplinary Council imposing fine on for ‘viewership malpractice’.
The plea was heard by a bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Milind Jadhav yesterday. The court said that without prejudice to the rights and contentions of TV Today Network, the media group was directed to deposit the amount of fine in the registry of the Court. It further said that if the fine amount was deposited there would no coercive action against it.
In the plea, the BARC order was challenged on the ground that BARC had failed to show evidence to prove the allegations against TV Today and that the order was ‘unreasoned’. The plea further contended that BARC did not upload any report of an independent audit process that it might have carried out to detect viewership malpractice as was required under the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The court adjourned the matter till November 5 after Advocates Ashish Kamath and Thomas George, appearing on behalf of BARC, told the court that a similar matter against BARC was listed for hearing on the same day.
BARC order holding India Today guilty of viewership malpractice
OpIndia was the first to expose the matter regarding the show-cause notice being sent to TV Today Network by BARC in April this year. In an exclusive report by OpIndia, it was revealed that TV Today Network had failed to provide a satisfactory answer to the BARC Disciplinary Council (BDC) as to the “abnormal” and “inexplicable” increase in India Today’s TRPs. The BDC had passed an order imposing a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the media network for viewership malpractice. India Today Group had had later issued a statement admitting that it was fined by BARC for viewership malpractice. In its statement, the Group had accused BARC of leaking confidential hearings.
India Today named in current TRP scam
India Today is again in the dock after a complaint by Hansa Research, the company that manages the Bar-O-meters of BARC, alleged that the channel was bribing households with the meters installed to watch their channel for at least 2 hours a day. The matter had exploded after Mumbai Police Commissioner had revealed about the TRP scam earlier this month, but named Republic TV instead. But soon, the report by Hansa Research and the FIR filed based on it were accessed by Republic TV, which showed that India Today was named in the case, not Republic.
Film director Mahesh Bhatt has been at the epicentre of controversy ever since the unnatural death of 34-year-old actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Now, in a shocking revelation, actress Luviena Lodh has slammed the director for constantly harassing her family members. It is important to mention that Luviena, who acted in several South Indian films, is married to the director’s nephew, Sumit Sabharwal.
In a 1.48 minute long video posted on Instagram and Twitter, the actress made shocking revelations about Mahesh Bhatt and Sumit. At the very onset, Luviena Lodh stated that the purpose behind making the video was to ensure her safety and that of her family.
Luviena Lodh accuses nephew of Mahesh Bhatt of human trafficking
“I was married to the nephew of (film director) Mahesh Bhatt, Sumit Sabharwal. I had filed a divorce case against him because I got to know that he was supplying drugs to other actors such as Amyra Dastur, Sapna Pabbi etc. His phone contains pictures of several girls whom she shows to directors,” she alleged. After that she said, “Vo ladkiya bhi supply karta hai. Inn saari baaton ki jaankari Mahesh Bhatt ko hai (He is also involved in supplying girls. Mahesh Bhatt is well aware of all these things).”
Bhatt has destroyed several lives, alleges the actress
Luviena emphasised, “Mahesh Bhatt is the don of the industry. He controls everything that goes on in the industry. If you don’t play by his rules, then, he will make your life miserable in the industry. Mahesh Bhatt has destroyed the lives of several people, including directors, actors and composers. People lose work just with one phone call by him and they don’t even get to know about it. He has done this to many people. And since I had filed a complaint against him, he is after me.”
Mahesh Bhatt is responsible if anything happens to me, claims Luviena Lodh
The actress stated, “He is trying his level best to throw me out of my house. And when I go to file an NC (non-cognisable complaint), then, it is not registered. Even if my complaint is lodged, then, no action is taken. If anything happens to me or my family, then the ones who should be held responsible are Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt, Sumit Sabharwal, Sahil Sehgal, Kumkum Sehgal.” She concluded, “Atleast people should now know what happens behind closed doors and how he has destroyed the lives of so many people. He is extremely powerful and influential.”
Luviena Lodh alleges her society secretary is harassing her
Luviena Lodh has also alleged that her society secretary and watchman are harassing her for the last 6 months. She said They are not allowing my essentials to reach her, robbing and destroying my food, medicine and personal items. She added that she has called police at 100 number, filed complaining at Versova police station, but she has not got any help.
My society secretary and watchman harrasing me from last 6 months. They are not allowing my Essentials to reach me, robbing n destroying my food, medicine and personal items. Called 100, done Nc at versova police station no help @CPMumbaiPolice@MumbaiPolicepic.twitter.com/aElYmH9JHv
She also alleged that her milkman was stopped from delivering milk to her, and was threatened by the watchman. When informed police about the same, the cop started shouting at her instead of taking action against the watchman.
Bhatt accused of threatening Jiah Khan’s mother
Rabia Khan, the mother of deceased actress Jiah Khan, had earlier revealed that film director Mahesh Bhatt had tried to intimidate her during the funeral of her daughter. Rabia Khan said that Bhatt had tried to convince her that Jiah Khan was mentally depressed at her funeral.
However, when she refuted his claims, the director said, “Tum chup hojao varna tumhe bhi injection deke sula dege (Shut up or else you will also be put to sleep forever using an injection).” Further accusing Bhatt of being a ‘mouthpiece’ of Bollywood mafia, Rabia Khan emphasised, “He is so pathetic that I have no words to express. He was intimidating when my daughter worked for him at the age of 16.”
The clash between Mumbai Police and Republic TV has worsened as an FIR has been filed against the TV news network by the police. After sending a notice seeking details of every single employee and journalist working for the Republic TV and details of every transaction made by the channel since its inception, the Mumbai Police has now filed an FIR against the entire editorial staff of the channel, a report by Republic TV said. The FIR has been filed against the entire editorial team of the channel allegedly for broadcasting the Hansa Report on TRP scam.
Fuming at the Mumbai Police, Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami said that a criminal case has been lodged against about 1000 employees of the channel.
#BREAKING on #RepublicWitchhunt | Mumbai Police files FIR against the entire editorial staff of Republic Media Network.
The FIR has been filed for allegedly inciting disaffection among Mumbai police and for defaming them. According to reports, the complaint was been filed by PSI Shashikant Pawar of Special Branch-1 at NM Joshi Marg Police station. Based on the complaint, an FIR has been filed under various sections including Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act 1922, read with section 500, 34 of IPC.
The complaint names several editorial staff at Republic including Deputy News Editor Sagarika Mitra, Anchor and senior Associate Editor Shivani Gupta, Deputy Editor Shawan Sen, Executive Editor Niranjan Narayanswamy. Apart from them the entire editorial staff and newsroom in-charge for the concerned report getting aired, and others are also named as accused in the FIR.
The complaint filed by the PSI said that the channel has committed offences amounting to incitement to disaffection among members of the Police Force and defaming Mumbai Police by airing the concerned reports.
“I have been informed just now that in the first time in the history of India, Mumbai Police has filed an FIR against 1000 members of the editorial staff. There is an FIR against all Republic TV editorial staff because we cited Hansa Research report on our show exposing the TRP scam,” Arnab said.
It may be noted that the report by Hansa Research had exposed the lies of Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, as it had shown that India Today was named in the TRP scam complaint, not Republic TV as alleged by Singh.
Bombay court legitimises Republic TV’s use of Hansa Research report in its broadcast on TRP case
While the Mumbai Police filed a criminal complaint against the entire editorial team of Republic TV for citing Hansa Research report in its broadcast of TRP scam, the Civil Court of Greater Bombay today legitimised the Republic TV’s use of Hansa complaint in the course of its coverage on the alleged TRP manipulation case.
A statement in this regard has been released by the Republic TV earlier today. “It was natural for the media house to use its news channel to defend itself against the charge of manipulation of TRP ratings and disclosing the documents which support their case of innocence,” the court observed as per the statement released by the Republic TV.
#RepublicWitchhunt In a big win for the truth & its disclosure to the public, not only has the City Civil Court of Greater Bombay upheld Republic Media Network’s right to refer to the Hansa complaint in its coverage of the TRP case but the document’s veracity has also been upheld pic.twitter.com/4UgAo1FF6O
The Court also noted that the claim that the mention of Hansa Research report by the defendants (Republic TV) in their broadcast will damage the reputation of the plaintiff (Hansa Research) is untenable and therefore unacceptable. The court had also noted that the document was already published by other media houses and circulated on social media, hence stopping Republic to broadcast will not prevent the circulation of the report.
Mumbai Police seek details of every transaction made by Republic TV since its inception
Earlier today, Republic TV reported that the Mumbai police Crime Branch has sought details of every financial transaction made by the channel in the past 4 years. Meanwhile, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Sundaram S have been asked to submit the details at the police station. Despite being well aware that collecting information of such transactions may take months, the Mumbai police have provided just 12-hour window to Republic TV for submitting the details.
As per Republic TV, the fresh demand for financial transactions is a part of the witch-hunt of the Mumbai police against the news network, carried out on the behest of the Maharashtra government. The channel has claimed that the cops have sought for petty and trivial transactions including the cost of toilet paper, coffee vending machines, makeup kits, stationery, furniture and so on.
Arnab Goswami at loggerheads with the Maharashtra government
Arnab Goswami and the Maha Vikas Aghadi government are at loggerheads since the prime time show aired on Republic Bharat over the lynching of Hindu sadhus in Palghar. Several FIRs were filed against the news anchor and he was called to the police station in Mumbai where he was grilled for more than 11 hours. A case was also filed against him and his channel Republic TV for broadcast on April 14 and 15 regarding the Bandra migrants incident.
Arnab had also alleged that one of his reporters and the camera person was unlawfully detained by the Maharashtra government when they were on a trail of an investigative story in Navi Mumbai. Another Republic TV journalist Pradeep Bhandari was recently encircled physically by the Mumbai Police and was detained illegally. It was alleged that Pradeep was assaulted as well and was not provided with access to lawyers.
A few days back, Republic TV was also targeted in a TRP manipulation case when the Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh convened a press conference and insinuated that Republic TV paid bribes to manipulate its TRP. However, hours later Republic TV cited Hansa Research’s report to allege that the complaint of TRP manipulation carried the name of India Today and not Republic TV.
Cases of sexual exploitation against women do not seem to end in the Congress-ruled state of Rajasthan. After a case of gang-rape of two minor girls was reported a few days ago, now another case of gang-rape of a Dalit woman has come to light from Jalore in the state. According to reports, the incident happened around four months ago but the victim reported the matter to the police yesterday after the culprits allegedly circulated a video of the incident that they had recorded.
The victim had reportedly taken her goats for grazing when the incident happened four months ago. The culprits named Ratnaram Chawdhery son of Dargaram, Bheekharam Patel son of Chatraram and Narayanram son of Sanklaram threatened her with a knife and gang-raped her. They recorded a video of the act using victim’s phone and then transferred it to one of the culprits’ phone. The victim kept mum because the culprits had her video. They also asked her to bring four other girls along and not to tell anyone about the incident.
A case has been filed by the police against the culprits on the victim’s information. A medical examination of the victim was conducted in Ahor Hospital. The police are on the lookout for the culprits. According to police, the accused had gangraped the 18-year old victim around four months ago and had filmed the act. Later on, when the victim failed to bring four other girls to them, they circulated the video of the gangrape on social media.
Rising Cases of rape in Rajasthan
The Congress-ruled state has witnesses several cases of rape in this month alone. Earlier this week, two minor girls were kidnapped from their in Bhinmal region by four men who took them to a deserted place and gangraped them. Interestingly Congress scions Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who had flocked the Hathras victim’s house in Uttar Pradesh along with hundreds of Congress workers seem to have failed to keep their own house in order.
In yet another act of spewing venom against Hindus, Thol Thirumavalavan, the Member of Parliament from Chidambaram constituency of Tamil Nadu, made hateful remarks against Hindus by saying that Hindu religious scriptures treated women as ‘sex workers’.
According to the reports, Thol Thirumavalavan, the founder of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), who fought the 2019 Lok Sabha elections under a UPA-DMK alliance ticket, recently spoke in an online seminar organised by a Periyarist group. In his speech, the controversial anti-Hindu ‘activist’-cum-politician said that all Hindu women are ‘prostitutes’ according to Sanatana dharma.
Continuing his anti-Hindu rant, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan spoke about Periyar and hailed him for ‘helping’ break the brahmanical ideologies that were taught by Hindu scriptures. The video of his anti-Hindu speech has gone viral on the internet drawing sharp criticisms from various sections.
“If one were to look at how women are valued in Sanatana Dharma… how they are treated, how they are being suppressed for time immemorial, how they are being exploited… what does Sanatana Dharma say about women?” Thirumavalavan said.
He continued, “Women are basically created as prostitutes by God. All women are prostitutes as per Hindu Dharma, Manu Dharma. All women are prostitutes. That is how they have been created by God. They are of lower status than men. This is applicable to Brahmin women as well as women of other castes. This is what the Sanatana Dharma says”.
Following the outrage, Thol Thirumavalavan issued a statement claiming that his video was taken out of context and that that was the agenda behind few pro-Hindu groups that wanted to spread hatred.
“Manudharma and Sanatana Dharma are scriptures that have degraded women from time to time. Some groups are twisting what I spoke in an online forum meeting over a month ago and spreading lies about it. Dr Ambedkar had, back then, highlighted how Manusmriti degraded women and had burned a copy of it. Periyar had also spoken about the atrocities and burned a copy of the Manusmriti. Time and time again several leaders have highlighted this and yet injustice towards women prevails,” he reportedly said.
Hindu temples are places with ‘dirty idols’
This is not the first time that Thol Thirumavalavan has indulged in peddling such anti-Hindu rants. Last year in November, Thol Thirumavalavan had made offensive statements against Hindu temples triggering a massive uproar across social media.
Speaking at an event in Puducherry, Thol Thirumavalavan was seen opposing Sanatana Dharma education policies and mocking the Hindu temples in front of the audience stating, “if the building has a dome, it is a mosque; if it is tall and straight, it is a church; and if it has dirty idols/dolls, it is a temple”.
A complaint was also registered against Thol Thirumavalavan in different police stations in Ariyalur district demanding the registration of an FIR against him.
As the world continues to suffer from the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic, some villages in Gujarat are setting an example for the world to deal with these apocalyptic times. According to reports, 139 villages in Rajkot, Gujarat have not recorded even a single case of Covid-19. According to News 18 India, out of total 598 villages of Rajkot, 139 villages have been declared as ‘corona free’ as there has been no positive case of Covid-19 in any of these villages so far.
People in these 139 villages have been strictly following the Covid-19 guidelines. Entry of outsiders is completely restricted in the villages and the people religiously wear masks and follow social distancing norms. According to the report, people in the villages believe that they can prevent Covid-19 from spreading if guidelines are followed properly. Therefore, these people avoid going outside unless necessary. These villages falling under 27 tehsils of Rajkot form around 28% of the total population in 96 tehsils of Rajkot.
District Health Officer Dr. Mitesh Bhanderi said that there has been no migration to these villages from outside since the beginning of the pandemic and therefore no positive cases were found, reported Divya Bhaskar. The villages have low population and people are aware and have been following social distancing. He said that the administration will increase the number of tests to ensure that no cases are left.
Gujarat has a total of 14,043 active cases of Covid-19 with 3,670 deaths so far. Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Gandhinagar are the five most affected districts in the State.
On Thursday, two Islamic terrorists named Abid and Mehraj Uddin surrendered before the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police, during a search and cordon operation in Shalpora Tujar Sharief area of Sopore in North Kashmir. They were affiliated with Ak-Badr.
As per reports, the J&K police had received a tip-off about the presence of the two terrorists in the area, post which a search and cordon operation was launched. It was jointly carried out by the Indian Army, J &K police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). When the presence of the terrorists was confirmed, the security forces decided to give them a second chance. They called in the parents of the young terrorists to convince them to lay down their arms. Following the intervention of the family members, the two terrorists decided to surrender.
The official Twitter handle of Chinar Corps had shared several videos in connection to the incident. In one video dating back to October 1, the Indian army officials met the family of the terrorists and promised to get the sons back. In another video, the mothers of the terrorists could be seen hugging their sons and appealing to them to return to the mainstream.
Based on inputs, a search operation was launched today afternoon. Once it was revealed that Abid and Mehraj Udin are present, their families were called and given a chance to surrender.#Kashmir@adgpi@NorthernComd_IApic.twitter.com/hIurkn77SV
While speaking on the development, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar stated, “Our full support will be available for the terrorists who lay down their arms and surrender. We always give the terrorists an opportunity to surrender during encounters, as they are our own people.”
In its official statement, the J&K police said, “Due to the great efforts of the security forces and repeated appeals by their family members, the terrorists eventually surrendered before the joint forces. They have been identified as Abid Mushtaq Dar and Mehraj-u-din Dar, both residents of Wadoora Payeen in Bomai area of Sopore.”
Video of another terrorist surrendering before Indian army goes viral
Earlier, the Indian army had put out another video of a terrorist laying down his arms before the security forces in Budgam. He was identified as Jahangir Bhat and was also newly recruited to a terrorist outfit. In the viral video, a solider was seen convincing him to surrender and asked fellow troop members to refrain from firing at the terrorist. He told other jawans to fetch water for Bhat as he sat down on the ground.
That’s how Indian Army functions. A terrorist surrendered in Kashmir . He was treated with full respect and dignity by brave soldiers of Indian Army. I urged all Kashmiris who were subverted by Pakistani extremist to surrender and become part of prosperous and vibrant India. pic.twitter.com/SYQ707JPiw
“Surrender for the sake of God, for the sake of your family…”Nobody will fire. Kuch nahi hoga beta (nothing will happen to you son),” the soldier told the terrorist. Reportedly, the security personnel had also recovered an Ak-47 from him.
Delhi’s Karkardooma court Friday extended the judicial custody of former JNU students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, accused of conspiring to organise the Delhi riots in February this year, by 30 days. Both will now remain in judicial custody till 20 November. Both the radical Islamists were booked by the Special Cell of Delhi police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in relation to the North-east Delhi riots case and are currently lodged in the Tihar jail.
BREAKING: Delhi Court allows application seeking for extension of remand by 30 days of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, with regard to investigation pertaining to conspiracy involved in #DelhiRiots.
While Sharjeel Imam was apprehended on August 25, Delhi police arrested Umar Khalid on September 14 for his alleged involvement in the horrific Northeast Delhi riots. Khalid is one among 15 people who have been arrested for their role in instigating and carrying out riots in the Chand Bagh area of Delhi on February 24.
The police had asked for a 30-day extension to the judicial custody of the two, arguing their continued remand was necessary to ensure the investigation could continue, by ensuring their presence.
Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid alleged not being allowed free movement in jail
Responding to the plea that both be allowed free movement in jail, the court asked the Tihar jail superintendent to ensure that they are allowed out of their cells as per rules.
Meanwhile, the Tihar jail superintendent stated that the two are allowed free movement in the jail premises as per rules. He also assured that any books and warm clothes sent for Khalid to the jail would be provided to him.
On Thursday, Umar Khalid had alleged that he was not being allowed to move freely in the jail and that he is being kept under solitary confinement. Later in the hearing, JNU student Sharjeel Imam also alleged same. The judge asked his lawyer to file an application, and orally asked the superintendent to make sure the rules were being followed.
Umar Khalid’s alleged role in Delhi riots
Khalid was arrested by the police September 14 for his alleged involvement in the horrific Northeast Delhi riots. He was summoned by the police for investigation and was later arrested. In a charge sheet filed by the Delhi police and admitted by the court, it is alleged that Khalid had hatched the conspiracy of the anti-Hindu Delhi riots along with his friends during the visit of the US President Trump to India. Khalid had allegedly met the former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain and another accused Khalid Saifi to assure logistical support during the riots through his contacts in the PFI.
Radical Islamist Sharjeel Imam wanted to turn Anti-CAA protests into a pan-India movement
Imam is accused of being involved in the conspiracy that led to the break-out of riots in the national capital. He was booked under various sections of the IPC and the UAPA. The charge sheet filed against him had revealed that Imam wanted to transform the anti-CAA protests into a nationwide movement. His WhatsApp chats revealed during the investigation show that he used the misinformation spreading around the CAA to further his agenda and in this, he got the help of local Islamic clerics.
Earlier the mastermind of the Shaheen Bagh protests was arrested on January 28 on sedition charges after he urged Muslims to cut off North East India from the rest of the country by blocking the ‘Chicken’s neck’ region in Assam.
After making startling revelations in an interview given to Bollywood Hungama in September 2020, in which Aamir Khan’s long-forgotten brother Faisal Khan claimed that his family had forcibly administered him wrong medications and forcibly kept him under house arrest for more than a year, he has given another interview in which he expressed his desire to come out of his superstar brother’ shadow.
In an interview with the Times of India that was published on October 22, 2020, Faisal Khan spoke on an array of issues, particularly about his directorial debut and his need to break out of Aamir Khan’s shadow.
‘Want people to recognise Aamir as my brother, not the other way around’: Faisal Khan
Responding to the question of whether he had received any help from Aamir Khan for his directorial venture, the Mela actor denied receiving any assistance from his brother. He said that Aamir has not even read the script that he is working on and he doesn’t need anyone’s help owing to his extensive experience as an actor and as an assistant to the directors. He added that he has come through a process and climbed his way up from being a third assistant to the director to being the first assistance.
Faisal also added that he wanted to helm a project that he could call as his own and be responsible for its success or failure. Khan said that he wants people to recognise Aamir Khan as Faisal Khan’s brother and not the other way around, and for this, he will have to break out of his superstar brother’s shadow and make his own decisions.
“I didn’t let anyone take the decisions, ultimately, as a director, you’re supposed to take your own decisions. Also, how does one form one’s own identity? I have had my own struggles. How does one break out of that? How does Faisal Khan ever break out of Aamir Khan’s shadow? Why doesn’t one write it as Faisal Khan’s brother Aamir? The whole system needs a big change,” Khan replied when asked if he had received any help from Aamir Khan on his directorial venture.
False allegations of mental illness destroyed my acting prospects: Khan
The former actor also opened up about how his career took a hit because of false allegations of him being mentally ill and depressed. The false notions of his mental illness had dried up work for him as an actor and people in the industry were scared to work with him, owing to the rumours about his mental capacities. Recounting the hard times, Khan said he was actively seeking opportunities in the field of acting but people were simply not ready to meet him. It is at this time, he switched his career from acting to directing, Khan said.
“I realised that it won’t be easy to get into direction, it will be an equally difficult task. However, it turned out fine for me. Now that I have directed a film, I don’t need anyone’s approval for my mental state. They are entitled to think what they want, the world can think what they want, it doesn’t affect me one bit. My work will speak for itself and that’s what matters,” Khan said.
Khan was illegally administered drugs and confined by his family
Earlier in September 2020, in an explosive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Khan had rejected the talks around his depression and mental illness as a lie. “I was never depressed or had paranoid schizophrenia”, he said. However, he made some serious allegations against his family.
“When my family was under the assumption that I am depressed, I have paranoid schizophrenia, they kept me under house arrest for one year. They gave me forceful medication which is not right and it’s illegal”, he revealed. “I was quietly tolerating it all hoping that they will finally understand,” he added.
Faisal Khan had said that he had to run away from his house after his family asked him to give up his signatory rights because they thought he was not normal. This was followed by a court case. Khan has further stated that there was a legal battle over his mental fitness and he was deemed normal after an evaluation by JJ Hospital.
However, quite contrary to what Faisal Khan maintains about his mental health, a statement was given by Aamir Khan in 2007 where he said that his brother was declared mentally ill by the doctors of J J Hospital. He had also told that he had even applied for his brother’s custody but the court granted it to their father.
The TRP scam, which is being investigated by the Mumbai Police seems to have more twists and turns than a Bollywood thriller. While the Hansa Research Report and the FIR based on it named India Today, the Mumbai Police Commissioner, Parambir Singh, held a press conference less than 48 hours after the FIR was registered and named Republic TV in the TRP scam instead. Since then, the saga of harassment of Republic TV journalists and officials have continued unabated.
Interestingly, while the Hansa Research Report and the FIR based on it named India Today and subsequently, a witness, while talking to the media also named India Today, inexplicably, in front of the magistrate, the witness changed tunes and named Republic TV, as was reported by the Times of India. It was suspected that the change in the statement could be coerced, however, there was no evidence to prove that theory.
In a development that gives yet another twist to the saga, now, a conversation has come to light where a witness, in whose home a bar-o-meter is installed, is admitting to his neighbour that he is being coerced to name Republic TV and India Today in his statement.
This recorded conversation was sent through credible sources to OpIndia. The recorded conversation, which is between Person A (Person in whose home a bar-o-meter is installed) and his neighbour, makes it evident that Person A was scared for his security and his family’s safety after being allegedly coerced by the Mumbai Police.
In the conversation, Person A tells his neighbour that at 3:30 AM, the police barged into his house. He says that they have arrested someone and an enquiry is underway about this machine (bar-o-meter). His family was further asked how much money they get, who gave them the money and in whose account was the money being received. He alleges that the arrested person was also with the 10-12 policemen who had barged into the house. On being enquired, the arrested person says that he had paid this family Rs 500 in cash and Rs 200 in the account. He also says that the police had taken all his details, like his address, phone number, account details etc. The person arrested is one Umesh, who is reportedly connected to Person A.
At this point, his neighbour advices him to lie and say that he watches none of the channels and gets only Rs 250 as rent. Person A, however, refuses to lie and says that the arrested individual has already said that they receive money, and now, it makes no sense to lie to the police.
Here is where the conversation becomes interesting.
Person B (the neighbour), asks Person A (the concerned person with the bar-o-meter installed) whether the police asked them what channel they watch.
Person A sounds nervous, clearing his throat, he says that they were told that there is a scheme of -channel name redacted- and ‘it’s their system’. Person A was enrolled in this ‘scheme’ and that was the reason they were getting ‘all the facilities’. He then says that his younger son was there and he said that they were told that -channel name redacted- has a ‘scheme’ and they would provide ‘facility to customers’.
The police then allegedly tells Person A’s family that “this has got nothing to do with -channel name redacted- but India Today and Republic Bharat”. Person A then says that his son told the police that they do not watch either India Today or Republic Bharat, but just watch -channel name redacted- when his father is at home.
Thereafter, Person A then says that the police had already written Republic Bharat in their papers (It is unclear what papers Person A was talking about, but presumably, he was talking about the witness statement).
The neighbour at this point says that the police is doing this to “trap them” (presumably meaning Republic TV). Person A at this point gets even more nervous and says that the police will also implicate him in false allegations. He says that the police will stand in front of his door and then, the rest of the building residents will say what is the “lafda” that he is involved in.
It becomes clear that Person A was not home when the police had barged into their house. He tells the neighbour that his wife told them that 10-12 policemen had barged into their home to question them. The neighbour at this point tells Person A that even if there were 20 policemen, they should tell them categorically that Republic Bharat does not give them money. Further, the neighbour tells him to say that Maharashtra government is against Republic and is trying to find something against them, however, they are just customers (people with bar-o-meters in the house). He says that if they paid them, they would watch them too. Concluding his comment, he tells Person A to tell clearly that -channel name redacted- pays them and not Republic Bharat.
Person A then says that the arrested person who was with the police “must have got beaten” and wonders what he must have told the police under duress. “if they have beaten him and made him say R Bharat, then he will confess it was R Bharat”, he says.
Person A reveals in the conversation with his neighbour that while 10-12 policemen were in his house, another 5-6 were standing at the gate of the building. He reveals that they have “already written R Bharat on paper” and while today police have come to his doorstep, tomorrow, others will become while his wife is alone.
Audibly shaken, he wonders what his plight would be, worried about Mumbai Police showing up at his door everyday and the other residents of his building getting worried about the mess and asking him to vacate the residence. The neighbour admits that “they are trying to make a case against R Bharat’. Person A says that he is extremely worried about the “lafda” with the police and courts and sounds increasingly agitated about the prospect of being dragged into the mess.
From the entire conversation, certain pertinent questions come to the fore:
Under what circumstances is it acceptable for the police to question anyone at 3:30 AM in the morning?
Does this not point towards coercive tactics?
If the customer (Person A and his family) had repeatedly said that they were enrolled in a ‘scheme’ to watch -channel name redacted-, why did the Mumbai Police insist that the case does not concern them, but is about Republic Bharat and India Today?
After losing face with the Hansa Research Report and FIR details emerging, is the Mumbai Police trying to create more evidence, independent of the initial FIR and Hansa Report to hound Republic TV?
Why did the Mumbai Police add the name of Republic TV, as alleged by Person A, to its documents while the witness kept insisting that he DID NOT watch Republic Bharat at all and instead, was asked to watch -channel name redacted-?
Can an investigation into any case be carried out with the police force being personally vested in implicating one channel?
The full conversation can be heard here:
What the advocate of arrested accused (Umesh) told OpIndia
OpIndia reached out to Advocate Giri, who is representing accused Umesh. He was told about the audio conversation that OpIndia is in possession of where Person A, in whose home a barometer was installed was talking, supposedly to his neighbour. At this point, Advocate Giri confirms that Person A was indeed talking to his neighbour and that he, in fact, is connected to accused Umesh (who he is representing).
However, when asked about the authenticity and contents of the audio conversation, Advocate Giri said that it would not be proper for him to comment on the contents or the authenticity of the tape since he was not present during the conversation and since, the matter is sub-judice. However, Giri did confirm that Person A was indeed talking to his neighbour and that he was connected to his client, Umesh, who is now in police custody.
The saga of the fake TRP scam and the curious case of Republic TV being implicated by Mumbai Police, while the complaint and FIR mentioned India Today
The TRP scam case has seen several twists and turns. While the Hansa Research report and the FIR filed on the basis of it named India Today, in less than 24 hours, Mumbai Police had seemingly made up its mind that Republic TV was the culprit instead and sent a notice to BARC to acquire their viewership data. In 48 hours, Parambir Singh had held a press conference naming Republic TV in the TRP scam and not even mentioning India Today.
Later, the Hansa Research FIR, their report based on which the FIR was filed and a witness statement naming India Today surfaced, putting the Mumbai Police and India Today in a tight spot.
After it was revealed that India Today had earlier been implicated by BARC Disciplinary Council in the manipulation of viewership, the drama had reached its Zenith, or so it seemed.
Soon, the witnesses, after being guarded by Mumbai Police closely, told the magistrate that it was Republic TV that had paid them. With this audio emerging where a customer in whose home a bar-o-meter is installed, alleging that he is being pressured by the Mumbai Police to name Republic TV in the TRP scam, the investigation further becomes questionable.
In the entire suspicious chronology of the case where Republic TV was being implicated in the TRP scam, not a shred of evidence, except the inexplicably changed statement by the witness, has surfaced against the channel run by Arnab Goswami in the public domain. While their CEO, CFO, journalists and Arnab Goswami himself continue to be hounded by the Maharashtra coalition government and the state machinery, including the Mumbai Police, it remains to be seen how many more twists and turns this case throws up.
Note: OpIndia has emailed the CBI earlier today informing them of this potential evidence that has come in our possession. As independent journalists, while it is our duty to put this critical information out in the public domain, we have informed the CBI that we are willing to handover the information we have with regards to this audio conversation, to assist in their investigation of the TRP scam. If an when the CBI responds to our email, we will update this report with the relevant information.
Note: Person A mentions another channel which he watches and had subscribed to owing to a ‘scheme’ they were being offered. That channel’s name has been redacted in the report since no police investigation, FIR or Hansa Report mentions that channel’s name thus far. The only mention of that channel is in this conversation. Therefore, OpIndia is withholding the channel name for the purpose of this report, pending inquiry.
