Not a simple case of TRP manipulation, Dasgupta was mastermind of entire crime: Mumbai Court's order rejecting bail to Partho Dasgupta

In its order rejecting bail to former Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) CEO Partho Dasgupta, the Mumbai Sessions Court observed that the Television Rating Points scam (TRP Scam) seems to be lot more than a simple rating manipulation case..Opining so, Additional Sessions Judge MA Bhosale held that there was a requirement to thoroughly carry out face to face investigation in the matter..Dasgupta was arrested by the Mumbai Police on December 24 for his alleged involvement in the TRP scam. He was remanded to judicial custody from December 31 for two weeks..The Court had reserved orders in his bail plea on January 19, and pronounced the verdict on January 20..In its order, the Court noted the voluminous WhatsApp chats which were brought to its attention through the supplementary chargesheet filed by the Mumbai Police..The Court observed that the exchange of chats between Dasgupta and Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami indicated a conspiracy for manipulation of TRPs of Republic TV channels..“The evidentiary value of whats up chat will be tested at the time of trial. However, Investigating Officer getting much more information from the whats up chat subsequently", the order states..Judge Bhosale further opined,“...it appears from the papers putforth before me that it is not the case of simple manipulation of TRP but more than that however, before forming any opinion regarding whats up chats, I am of the opinion that through out investigation is required to be necessary.".The Court also came across some code words used by Dasgupta in the chats. “....accused/applicant is proper person to explain the meaning therefore, face to face investigation is required to be necessary.”.The Court also recorded that while fourteen other accused in the case were released on bail, it appears that Dasgupta is the "mastermind of the entire crime", and that he used his position as CEO to "manipulate the television rating"..On the grounds that the investigation was ongoing and that there was a possibility of tampering of evidence, the Court rejected Dasgupta's bail application..[Read bail order here]