Mumbai: The former CEO of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, Partho Dasgupta, has claimed in a handwritten statement to Mumbai Police that he received USD 12,000 from Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami for manipulating ratings in favour of the news channel.
The Mumbai police have filed a 3600-page additional charge sheet on Monday against Dasgupta, former CEO of BARC Romil Ramgarhia, and Republic Media Network CEO Vikas Khanchandani for alleged manipulation of channel ratings. The first charge sheet was filed in November 2020 against 12 people.
In the charge sheet, Mumbai police claimed that Dasgupta was paid USD 12,000 by Republic News editor Arnab Goswami for a foreign trip. The charge sheet also alleged that Rs 40 lakh was paid to Partho Dasgupta for manipulating ratings in Republic TV's favour.
Dasgupta has said in his handwritten statement that he had known Arnab Goswami since 2003 and had a good acquaintance with him. used to work together in Times Now. Dasgupta joined BARC as CEO in 2013. Arnab Goswami launched Republic in 2017.
Even before launching Republic TV Arnab would talk to me about plans for the launch and indirectly hint at helping him to get good ratings to his channel. Goswami knew very well that he knows how the TRP system works. He also alluded to helping him out in the future, Dasgupta said in his handwritten statement.
"I worked with my team to ensure manipulation of TRP ratings that made Republic TV get to number 1 rating. This would have continued from 2017 to 2019. Towards this, in 2017 Arnab Goswami had personally met me at St Regis hotel, Lower Parel and given me 6000 dollars cash for my France and Switzerland family trip…also in 2019 Arnab Goswami had personally met me at St Regis and given me 6000 dollars for my Sweden and Denmark family trip. Also in 2017, Goswami had personally met me at ITC Parel hotel and given me Rs 20 lakh cash. Also in 2018 and 2019 Goswami met me at ITC hotel Parel and gave me Rs 10 lakhs each time," Dasgupta's statement read.
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