[TRP Scam] WhatsApp chats were between two close friends, no talk of manipulation: Republic TV to Bombay High Court

Republic TV on Monday submitted before the Bombay High Court that the WhatsApp chats between Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and former Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) CEO Partho Dasgupta related to the Television Rating Points (TRP) case were merely conversations between two friends.

. Senior Advocate Ashok Mundargi, appearing on behalf of Republic TV's holding company, ARG Outlier Media made the argument during the hearing of the petition by ARG challenging the criminal proceedings initiated against the channel and its employees in the TRP scam case.

. Referring to the WhatsApp chats in the hearing today, Mundargi submitted that the Mumbai Police had been relying upon the same to show how Goswami and Dasgupta were involved in TRP manipulation.

. Terming their conversation as “chat between two friends”, Mundargi’s contention was that there was nothing in the chats to show that TRP manipulation was discussed. He claimed that the chats submitted to the Court were placed out of context.

. Although the Bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale expressed its surprise at the manner in which the police managed to procure these chats, some of which were purportedly deleted from the devices, the Court enquired about certain chats.

. Referring to these specific chats, the Court mused as to whether the petitioners were even suspects as claimed by the police.

Justice Pitale said that since the police was still investigating the case, they were yet to conclude if the petitioners can be named as accused.

. The Court also requested Mundargi to clarify whether his submissions can in any way show what is the business of the company so that there is more clarity on its role in the scam.

. Mundargi's primary contention was that even after the chargesheet was filed, the petitioners had not been named as accused.

“My submission was that since we are still being shown as suspects, and the investigation is not going any further, as far as we are concerned, the investigation can be quashed. They have been investigating for so long. Whatever and from whichever sources they can get information they could have gotten...There is no other, new source...”

. The Court thereafter enquired what kind of protection can be granted to the petitioners. The judges' apprehension was that since the investigation was ongoing and the State had clarified that they will be pursuing the probe against the petitioners, they could not intervene in the case.

“There is no provision in law where we can restrict their investigation where 6 months outer limit is given, and then we will tell them to stop investigation if nothing is found. The investigation may go on for months and the spirit of law is to be followed,” Justice Shinde stated.

. Mundargi responded that “the entire purpose of this investigation is to arrest petitioner no. 2 Arnab Goswami and once he is arrested, it will stop.”

. Due to paucity of time, the Bench adjourned the hearing. Before adjourning, it directed Chief Public Prosecutor Deepak Thakare to get instructions from the investigating officer on the time limit for completing the investigation.

. Mundargi was assisted by Advocate Niranjan Mundargi who were briefed by Advocates Zoeb Cutlerywala, Vikram Kamath, Pinak Bhagwat from Phoenix Legal .

. In the previous hearing, Mundargi attempted to show malafides on the part of the Mumbai Police during the investigation. His contention was that the malafides in the case were overbearing on the merits of the case and statement of the witnesses.

.TRP Scam: Bombay High Court hears challenge by Republic TV to proceedings against it by Mumbai Police [LIVE UPDATES]. Read an account of today's hearing here:

.TRP Scam: Challenge to proceedings against Republic TV by Mumbai Police -LIVE from Bombay High Court

[TRP Scam] WhatsApp chats were between two close friends, no talk of manipulation: Republic TV to Bombay High Court

Neha Joshi

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