TRP scam: Police summon Republic TV investors

Following the confession of 10th accused Abhishek Kolwade in the TRP scam, the Mumbai Police investigation team has summoned five of Republic TV's investors for questioning. The team is proving into Kolwade's allegations that he was paid to influence TRP ratings by Republic TV and one other channel.

Earlier, the police had also recorded the statements of, and questioned Republic TV's CEO Vikas Khanchandari, COO Hersh Bhandari and various members of the top editorial team including Arnab Goswami. Investigations into dealings between Republic TV and Hansa Research Group are also ongoing.

Yesterday the Mumbai City Civil and Sessions Court granted bail to Shirish Pattanshetty, the owner of the Fakht Marathi channel, who is also accused of rigging TRPs.

According to LiveLaw, Pattanshetty's lawyer dismissed the allegations of TRP fraud and pointed out that there was…"no exponential rise in the Television Rating Points (TRP) of the Applicant's channel during the period alleged in the FIR. The steady decline is the same."

No evidence was recovered from the accused, his lawyer argued. Bail was set at ₹50,000.