Mumbai: The Bombay High Court asked the Mumbai police on Wednesday that since the latter claimed to have adequate evidence against Republic TV and its Editor-in- Chief Arnab Goswami in the alleged TRP scam, why had they not named them as accused in the case.
A bench of Justices S S Shinde and Manish Pitale directed Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Shishir Hiray to inform the court by Thursday whether the police plan to proceed against Goswami and Republic TV.
It also asked Hiray to tell the court how much time were the police likely to take to complete the investigation into the case.
“You are investigating for the last three months. There are two charge sheets, and there seems to be no evidence against them. And this FIR is of October 2020. We are in March 2021,” the HC said.
“Why keep the sword hanging on their head? You are not making them an accused also, why so?” it asked.
The bench was responding to submissions made by senior advocate Ashok Mundargi, the counsel for Goswami and ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd, the company that runs Republic TV channels.
Mundargi told the HC that the police had named Goswami and several employees of the ARG Outlier Media as suspects, but had no evidence to charge them as accused in the case.
“They (police) cannot keep investigating forever. If they have some material against us, they have to show us, they cannot keep playing hot and cold,” Mundargi said.
However, SPP Hiray said the police have adequate evidence in the case and that they are still “collecting” additional evidence.
“Then why not make them an accused? We do not think there is anything such as ‘suspect’ in criminal law,” the bench said.
The court said the contention of the petitioners, Goswami and the ARG Outlier Media, was that they were always under the fear that some action might be taken against them.
The HC will continue hearing the arguments on Thursday.
The ARG Outlier Media and Goswami approached the HC last year, filing a bunch of petitions seeking several reliefs in the Television Rating Points (TRP) scam.
They alleged that the whole case was malafide and they had been targeted for Republic TV’s reportage in connection with the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and Palghar lynching case last year.
The Mumbai police in January this year filed two affidavits in the case through Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh and ACP Shashank Sandbhor of the crime branch, saying they had not targeted the Republic TV or its employees.
The police had said their probe was not a result of any political vendetta and there was evidence to show that Goswami had connived with senior officials of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to rig the TRP of Republic TV.
The Republic TV has denied any wrongdoing.
Also read: Why did Mumbai Police hold press conference over alleged TRP scam, asks Bombay HC
For personal jealousy Udhhav thackrey drained away all the achievement and hard work of Balasaheb
This is begining of the end of Thakre dynasty. Udhhav and his son are incompetent pygmies compared to Balasaheb Thakre. This chap is sitting as CM only because of father’s name.
@Rakesh Pandit: It was very clear that Arnab, the great journalist was framed by Congress Jihadi sena’s Italian bar dancer!! It was amplified by their presstitutes representing 90% of Indian media!!
Democracy, journalism & freedom of speech is not in danger in Jihadi sena led Maharastra or Rajasthan for these Chinese/Paki funded political parties & their media cronies!!
I DONT KNOW AS TO WHY YOU ARE BEHIND ARNAB GOSWAMI ?
SHRI.ARNAB GOSWAMI IS THE BEST JOURNALIST WITH A SLOGAN – WHERE EAGLES DARE, AS ARNAB DARES WHERE NONE OF YOUR JOURNALISTS DARE.
IF TOI FEELS PRIDE THAT ONE OF ITS JOURNALISTS, IS DOING A GREAT SERVICE TO THE NEWS MEDIA, IT’LL BE RESOECTED AS IT WAS ALL THESE YEARS. OR ELSE WE’LL HAVE TO ADD ANOTHER THREE LETTER WORD & FLUSH IT.
I STILL LOVE TIMES BUT ITS A PITY THAT ONE OF THE OLDEST & THE LARGEST PRINTED NEWSPAPER WILL LOSE ITS EVERLASTING BEAUTY.
Yesterday HC Bombay teared the clothes of Traitor Thackeray Sarkar, Incompetent Minister Home of Maharashtra, Criminal Minded EX CP of Mumbai IPS Param Bir Singh.
It is unfortunate for Media Freelancer, Citizen Journalist. Association in Press & Media i.ee
Editor Guilds, NBA, Press Club & Others did not stand against illegal act by Government of Maharashtra, Maha Police, Mumbai Police, Shivsena & Rashtrawadi Congress Gunda doing all kind of illegal acts in Maharashtra.
सत्य अपराजित है|
So the next time other media house go after print because the courts did find something incorrect in the way the print operated, I’m sure the leftist ecosystem will not scream foul?
It’s Goondashahi infested with my corrupt politicians and criminals inducted in police by them to serve their nefarious activities. Arnab is not the lone victim of goons in uniform. Out there are lacs of victim who have suffered at their hands and never got heard because these goons have 100 baaps to shield and protect. I am such victim.
Its understandable why they are saying that they have proof yet are not producing it before the court.
They were with sachin vaze who met the biggest misfortune of karma catching so soon.
HC which was pulled up by the Highest Court of the country, the SC….too should b watching Vaze’s arrest for his deeds, he is d same man who invented TRP trap for Arnab & Republic, shldnt it ring a bell?
HC which was pulled up by the Highest Court of the country, the SC….too should b watching Vaze’s arrest for his deeds, he is d same man who invented TRP trap for Arnab & Republic, shldnt it ring a bell?
Such a manipulative media channel The Republic is, also fyi everyone knows how their debate turns into violence nuisance , the high court, the supreme court, the cbi are they being somehow controlled my the centre?. Sushant Singh Case was transferred to CBI from Mumbai Police it’s been more than 9 months why isn’t the Print or High Court worried about the capabilities of central controlled CBI.
Ha!! Ha!! If republic media is manipulative what to say of of @NDTV, The Print, The wire… and other Chinese/Paki funded Jihadi sena & media??!!
As for SSR, everything needn’t be disclosed in public when Jihadi sena’s drug cartel has to be busted in the long run!!
Ye!! CBI needs to go to Jihadi Thakkeray & bar dancer to disclose why they are not arresting them to bust their Paki drug Nexus & anti Hindu terrorist gang!!
The medias named print, wire, coolness, etc are smart on spreading fake or distorted news
Correct!! Recently, the wire ran an article on the Chinese BRI which was straight from the Chinese communist dictatorship’s mouth!!
Wire, @The Print, Scroll, NDTV.. & cronies are led by Congress/AAP.. All these fake secular’s are anti Hindu & anti India!! They are all seriously compromised by China/Soros & halala Jihadis!!