STATEMENT: India Today in FIR, Arnab Goswami demands Param Bir Singh's resignation

After it came to light that India Today has been mentioned multiple times in FIR over which Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh had attempted to implicate Republic TV, Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on Thursday demanded resignation of Mumbai CP. Observing that Singh had been totally exposed, he stressed that Republic TV was t even mentioned in FIR copy accessed by Network. Arnab ted that India Today was channel for which financial compensation was allegedly provided to gain viewership.

He expressed dismay that Mumbai Police Commissioner had closed investigation against India Today and instead, addressed a presser accusing Republic TV. Moreover, Arnab stated that main witness in case has gone on record and named India Today. Earlier in day, he anunced that Republic TV will file a criminal defamation case against Param Bir Singh. 

Read: Watch Arnab's Newsbreak As India Today's Name Emerged In FIR Mumbai CP Cited, t Republic

Here is Arnab's full statement: 

" Mumbai Police Commissioner has been completely and totally exposed. A copy of FIR in TRP case mentions India Today as channel to be investigated. In fact, India Today has been mentioned multiple times in FIR. re is t a single mention of Republic TV. w, main witness in case has also gone on record and named India Today as English channel for which financial compensation was allegedly provided to gain viewership. complaint against India Today was made on October 6. Param Bir Singh closes investigation against India Today within 16 hours and does a press conference against Republic TV. w, that FIR is out and critical witness is on record, and Mumbai Police Commissioner has been caught red-handed. He must, in interest of morality, quit."

Read: Mumbai Police Should Recuse Itself From Any Matter Concerning Republic & Arnab: Ex-UP DGP

India Today named in FIR

Republic TV accessed FIR filed by Mumbai Police on complaint of Nitin Deokar,  Deputy General Manr of Hansa Research Group Private Limited. This company is responsible for installing and maintaining Bar-O-Meter of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). Arrested by Mumbai Police, Vishal Bhandari- Relationship Manr of  Hansa Research Group Private Limited has revealed that India Today and or channels instigated him and offered money to panel homes, where Bar-O-Meter is installed.  

As per complainant, some persons try to increase ratings by making panel homes watch certain channels against payment of money. Furrmore, Deokar revealed that a person named Vinay asked Bhandari in vember 2019 to approach 5 homes and ask m to watch India Today daily for two hours. As per Bhandari’s own confession to BARC Vigilance team, Vinay paid him Rs.5000 as commission for distributing Rs.1000 among 5 panel homes. An audit inquiry by BARC confirmed that 5 households were indeed bribed to watch India Today daily for a minimum of two hours from vember 2019 to May 2020. 

Read: 'Those Who Agree...': Ishkaran Backs Republic & Arnab Over Mumbai CP's False Allegations