Republic TV CEO arrested in TRP manipulation case

NEW DELHI: Mumbai police have arrested the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Republic TV, Vikas Kanchandani in connection with the Television Rating Point (TRP) manipulation case, becoming the 13th person to be arrested in this case.

Confirming the arrest, a senior police official said that Kanchandani's statement was recorded twice and his involvement was established during the interrogation of Republic TV's distribution head Ghanshyam Singh, who was earlier arrested in connection with this case.

"We have direct evidence against Khanchandani and have also found his link with earlier arrested accused Ghanshyam Singh," an investigating officer said.

They further mentioned that Khanchandani was also part of the WhatsApp group in which discussions on LCN (Logical Channel Number) were held.

Logical Channel Numbers (LCNs) are unique channel numbers for each TV station that serves as the unique identifier on the digital broadcasting platform.

Furthermore, the investigation team also contacted cable operators, who alleged that they used dual Logical Channel Numbers, where the channel could be found in the genre of Kids channel besides other news channels category, giving access for appearance in two places.

The Television Rating Point scam was detected in October this year after a Hansa official filed a complaint with Mumbai police leading to the arrest of the heads of Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema.

The Mumbai Police Crime Branch had filed a charge sheet in the alleged fake Television Rating Point against six channels that were supposedly paying money to boost TRPs for about two years.

Meanwhile, all the channels that have been charge-sheeted denied any foul play.

(Edited by Gabriel G Momin)