[TRP Scam] Former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta manipulated TRP: Mumbai Court denies bail [Read order]

A Mumbai court on Monday rejected the bail application of former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Broadcast Audience Research Council, Partho Dasgupta stating that he played a vital role in the TRP scam. .Addl. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate SB Bhajipale observed that there was evidence to show that Dasgupta manipulated TRP in favour of particular channels and he could influence witnesses if released. ."The present applicant played vital role in the commission of offence. He was CEO of BARC from June 2013 to November 2019. The material collected by the Investigating Officer shows that the present accused manipulated TRP for particular TV channels by using his office as CEO of BARC. From the case diary and reply to the bail application, it appears that the investigation is at crucial stage. The applicant is the most influential person who worked as CEO of BARC and the other persons are yet to be interrogated. In such circumstances, it is requirements of further investigation to keep the present accused away form the wanted accused," the order said.."The material collected by the Investigating Officer shows that the accused manipulated TRP for particular TV channels by using his office as CEO of BARC."Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.Dasgupta was arrested by the Mumbai Police on December 24, 2020 for his alleged involvement in the fake Television Rating Points (TRP) scam unearthed by the Mumbai Police..Dasgupta filed the present bail application after he was remanded to judicial custody on December 30, 2020. .The CMM had earlier remanded Dasgupta to police custody till December 28, 2020, which got extended to December 30, 2020..[TRP Scam] Mumbai Police claims Arnab Goswami paid former BARC official "in lakhs" to manipulate TRPs.Advocate Girish Kulkarni appearing for Dasgupta submitted before the Magistrate that the offences alleged against Dasgupta were not substantiated by the police..His contention was that there was no evidence to prove the offences against Dasgupta and additionally the co-accused who had been arrested in the case, had all been granted bail..Kulkarni argued that the alleged offence of cheating meant there ought to have been a wrongful loss or wrongful gain which was not made out in this case..He further added that the offence of criminal breach of trust was also not attracted as there was no question of entrustment..He finally submitted that Dasgupta had resigned from his position as the CEO of BARC in November of 2019 much before the alleged TRP Scam took place..Special Public Prosecutor Shisher Hirey opposed the application pointing out Dasgupta’s role and evidence that the police authorities had discovered against Dasgupta..The Court noted that the other accused from BARC including Romil Ramgadiya, former Chief Operating Officer had been released on bail because he had played a different role. ."Principle of parity is not applicable in case of the present applicant," the court said while rejecting Dasgupta's bail application..[Read bail order here]