[TRP Scam] Mumbai courts grants anticipatory bail to Republic TV COO Priya Mukharjee

A Mumbai court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Republic TV, Priya Mukharjee in the fake TRP scam case registered by Mumbai Police..The Sessions court directed Mukharjee to appear before the concerned police station once every week. In case, Mukharjee is arrested, she can be released on bail bond of Rs. 50,000, the court added. .Mukherjee had claimed in her bail petition that neither the FIR nor the complaint filed by the employee of Hansa Group named Republic TV or any official of ARG as the accused. It was her case that the police was not investigating the alleged scam properly as they had in a prejudicial manner declared Republic TV as a possible accused in the scam just 2 days after they received the complaint from the employee..The Commissioner of Mumbai Police Param Bir Singh had even announced during a press release that Republic TV was involved in the TRP scam, it was pointed out. .Mukherjee's application mentioned that the key managerial employees of Republic TV reasonably believed that they will be apprehended by the Mumbai Police in the TRP case "with a malaise intention of muzzling the journalistic freedom of both the petitioners and to send a message of chilling effect to thwart freedom of speech and expression.".Mukherjee claimed the investigation in the case was frivolous as the complaint was against breach of trust and cheating against one of its employees. "Why the State machinery is overactive over this case is not far to seek, since the Commissioner of Police, leaving his other duties is giving press conferences targeting ARG and Mr. Arnab Goswami declaring them guilty and ensuring their harassment on a private cheating complaint where Republic TV is not even named, neither are its employees," the petition said. .Mukherjee also submitted that she had co-operated with the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police when they summoned her for investigation on November 17 and 18. She was, however, surprised because they asked questions which were unconnected with the TRP case. Since ARG could not be implicated in any case, they were attempting to put criminal liability through other issues, it was contended. .Mukherjee also stated in her application that the Mumbai Police no longer has jurisdiction to investigate in the present case, as the investigation for the scam was taken over by the CBI as per the order of the Allahabad High Court in an FIR registered in Lucknow. She added that according to news reports, the Enforcement Directorate has filed an Enforcement Case Information Report in the present matter..Earlier, the Karnataka High Court had granted Mukharjee transit bail as she was in Bengaluru and was apprehending arrest by the Mumbai police. The High Court had granted bail for a period of 20 days within which period Mukharjee was asked to approach the concerned jurisdictional court for further relief. After returning to Mumbai, she had moved the Sessions court for anticipatory bail.