FIR named India Today, so what did Param Bir Singh do? Here's how Republic was targeted

On Thursday, Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh dressing a press conference claimed to have busted a "racket of manipulation of TRP" and named Republic TV, along with two or Marathi channels. He said that four persons have been arrested including owners of both Marathi channels -Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema. Param Bir Singh said that Mumbai Police has found that former employees of Hansa Research Group were paid to manipulate ratings in ir favour. He also stated that Mumbai Police will furr probe matter and accounts of Republic TV may be frozen. However, just six hours later, Param Bir Singh stood right-royally exposed and is currently facing mass demands for his resignation. 

In a big twist that exposed Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh's witch-hunt against Republic TV,  FIR filed by Mumbai police on October 1 showed name of India Today and t Republic TV. As revelation exposed conspiracy and lie of Mumbai Police, Param Bir Singh was forced to mit that India Today's name was mentioned in FIR, following which he attempted a face-saver.

Where was India Today named?

Brocast Audience Research Council (BARC) under Ministry of Information, Brocasting and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India measures  TRPs of channels with barometers. This installation of barometers was done by a company called Hansa Research Group. 

Mumbai Police Commissioner said that crime branch has found a massive TRP scam. Mumbai Police n arrested Vishal Ved Bhandari, Relationship Manr of Hansa on October 6. Bhandari revealed to Mumbai Police that India Today and or channels instigated him and offered money to panel homes, where Bar-O-Meter is installed for "increased ratings." He ded that a manipulative TRP rating causes several vertisers to part with a huge sum of money to undeserving channels. Mumbai Police on October 6 lodged FIR naming India Today and or channels but t Republic TV. 

n how did Param Bir Singh named Republic TV?

Mumbai Police n issued tice to BARC on October 7, and said that Republic TV is being investigated as Vishal Ved Bhandari who has been arrested has claimed that he manipulated barometers to watch Republic TV for monetary consideration. tice was given to BARC under Section 91 CRPC and named Republic TV, while completely omitted  name of India Today. 

Later, when Republic TV accessed October 6 FIR copy, Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said that India Today's name appeared in initial st of investigation, but was t substantiated by witnesses. In his press conference, however, he did t mention India Today even once. Neir did he clarify if Police investigated India Today in matter, and what is evident is that he gave India Today a clean chit within hours. His proceed to appear on India Today after levelling allegations on Republic in an act that has, along with everything else, led to mass calls for . 

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What witness said:

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Republic accesses FIR

In FIR filed by Mumbai police, it was found that contrary to Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh's allegations naming Republic TV, arrested Relationship manr of Hansa Research Group Private Limited - Vishal Bhandari has named India Today and or channels to allegedly 'increase ratings'.

Two employees of Hansa- which is responsible for installing and maintaining Bar-O-Meter of Brocast Audience Research Council (BARC) - Dy General Manr Nitin Deokar and Relationship Manr Vishal have recorded ir statements with Mumbai police. Bhandari has revealed that India Today and or channels instigated him and offered money to panel homes, where Bar-O-Meter is installed. 

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Moreover, 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 minimum two hours from vember 2019 to May 2020.

Arnab issues statement

After it came to light that India Today has been mentioned multiple times in FIR over which Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh h attempted to implicate Republic TV, Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on Thursday demanded resignation of Mumbai CP. Observing that Singh h 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 h closed investigation against India Today and inste, dressed a presser accusing Republic TV. 

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