[TRP Scam] Hansa Group approached court seeking transfer of probe to CBI only when nexus with TV channels was exposed: Mumbai Police to Bombay HC

Hansa Research Group approached the Bombay High Court seeking transfer of the probe into the Television Rating Points (TRP) scam from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch to the Central Bureau of Investigation only when the investigation started to expose the nexus between them and Television channels, the Mumbai Police has told the Bombay High Court. .In an affidavit filed before the High Court, the Mumbai Police said Hansa group filed the transfer plea only to support and aid ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd. (owner of Republic TV channel) and to protect them from the prosecution."It is only when the investigation started to expose the nexus between the Petitioner and the channel, the doors of this Court were knocked to stall the on-going investigation. ... It is submitted that 5 out of 15 persons arrested so far in connection with the scam are former employees of Hansa Research," the affidavit said..Hansa Research Group had filed a plea before the High Court seeking transfer of the probe into the TRP scam from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) citing harassment faced by its employees to make false statements to suit the designs of the Crime Branch..Mumbai Police refuted the allegations pointing out that transfer of investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is not routine and is being sought with ulterior motives. .The complainant or the accused have no right to choose the investigating agency or the manner in which investigation is being conducted, the affidavit added. .The police have also contended that only because Hansa employees are are complainant they cannot be precluded from any enquiry or interrogation..“During investigation of an offence if any material comes to light indicating involvement of any person including the complainant in respect of commission of offence the police is not precluded from investigating the same merely because the information was originally given by the complainant,” the affidavit stated.The police have also denied causing any harassment or coercion upon Hansa employees as the investigation is being conducted in a fair and judicious manner.“The entire theory / allegation of pressure and harassment has been made only for creating a smokescreen” the affidavit said..The police have claimed that during the course of their investigation they have come across evidence which points out suspicious transactions of Rs. 32 lakhs between Hansa and ARG Outlier which was concealed from Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC)..The police also rebutted the specific allegations of Hansa claiming that they are compelling Hansa employees to make specific statements against ARG Outlier pertaining to a report which was displayed on the Republic TV channel..Relying upon the suit filed before the City Civil Court, Mumbai where Hansa has denied the report on oath in the plaint filed against ARG Outlier, the police found it unnecessary to seek any further statement in that regard.