[BREAKING] Mumbai Court grants anticipatory bail to three employees of Republic TV channel in TRP scam

A Mumbai Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to three employees of Republic TV channel accused in the alleged Television Rating Points (TRP) scam brought to light by its Crime Branch of Mumbai Police..Additional Sessions Judge Abhishri Deo passed the verdict today in the anticipatory bail applications filed by employees of Republic TV including Siva Subramaniam, Chief Financial Officer and Shivendra Mundherkar and Ranjit Walter.The judge held that in the event there is an arrest, the accused shall be released on anticipatory bail after executing bail bond of Rs.1,00,000/- each with one or two solvent sureties.The judge also imposed other standard conditions like being available for investigation, to not leave the country without the Court's permission, etc. .The three applicants been made accused in the supplementary chargesheet filed in June 2021.Their contentions were that the investigation being carried out in the TRP scam was based on documents and bank statements, most of which were submitted to the police or could be submitted as and when demanded.They also submitted that they were willing and co-operative during the investigation being carried out in the case..During the hearing of the applications, the Judge enquired with both parties - the applicants and the Mumbai Police - if the anticipatory bail applications would even lie considering the chargesheet had been filed against them..Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hirey submitted that while there wasn't any requirement now to arrest them considering the investigation was complete, he submitted that he had instructions to oppose the applications. On instructions, he stated that the police agreed to give a 48 hour notice to the accused before making any arrests. .Advocate Niranjan Mundargi appearing for the applicants submitted that there was a technical difficulty that arose if the anticipatory bail is not granted.He explained that while there could not be a bar for the police to arrest, it was easy to approach the concerned magistrate for bail, once the chargesheet has been filed. However considering one of the offences charged against the accused was under 409 (criminal breach of trust), in which the punishment was beyond the jurisdiction and power assigned to the magistrate, the magistrate will direct them to approach the higher forum, which is the sessions court. He argued that for this reason, for the convenience of the parties and to reduce proceedings, an order granting anticipatory bail may be granted. .After hearing the parties for sometime on Monday, the Court reserved the matter for orders..Mundargi appearing for the applicants was briefed by Advocates Zoeb Cutlerywala, Vikram Kamath, Pinak Bhagwat from Phoenix Legal.