[TRP Scam] "Republic Channel, maalak, chaalak and sambandhit vyakti" protected from coercive action till tomorrow

The Mumbai Police today undertook before the Bombay High Court that they will not take coercive action against the persons mentioned in the chargesheet filed in the Television Rating Points (TRP) scam case..The statement was made during the hearing of the plea filed by ARG Outlier, the parent company of Republic TV channel challenging the FIR filed in relation to the alleged scam. .Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda appearing for ARG and the Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami requested the court to hear him for grant of an urgent relief. .Ponda's urgent prayer before the court was to seek protection from arrest for persons mentioned in the chargesheet filed by the Mumbai Police. "I am making a solemn statement that the Maharashtra Police has reached Delhi to arrest them. I have received a message at 2.30 pm. It is there on my phone. I am only seeking that they should not arrest me till tomorrow," Ponda submitted. .He claimed that the people who were sought to be arrested were not accused in the chargesheet. He pointed out from the chargesheet that republic TV was implicated as "Republic Channel, maalak, chaalak and sambandhit vyakti" (Republic channel, owner, manager and related persons) which could mean anyone..Chief Public Prosecutor Deepak Thakare objected to his plea reasoning that Ponda was essentially seeking a blanket order for the company. He said that unless the persons he was referring to were made a party to the petition, they cannot be protected by virtue of this plea..The Court, however, asked Thakare to consider the request after seeking instructions from the Police to consider not taking coercive actions."The maalak, chaalak words are so broad it may include anyone, even reporters on field. Why don't you take instructions of no coercive action till tomorrow? No one is stopping you from investigating." Justice Shinde said.."The maalak, chaalak words are so broad it may include anyone, even reporters on field. Why don't you take instructions of no coercive action till tomorrow? No one is stopping you from investigating."Justices SS Shinde.After taking instructions, Thakare than made a statement in court that "no coercive steps will be taken against persons referred to in running page 21 of the chargesheet filed by the Mumbai Police till tomorrow.".Matter will be heard tomorrow through video conference hearing..[Read order]