The great Television Rating Point (TRP) scam by Republic TV CEO Arnab Goswami is now public on the social media, with over 500-pages of Whatsapp chat messages between Arnab Goswami and Former Chief Executive Officer of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) Partho Das Gupta have been allegedly leaked by the Mumbai police.
Mumbai police arrested Partho Das in the TRP scam, following which the chat has been attached to the charge sheet of the case. The transcript begins in July 2019 and extends until mid-October the same year. It reveals damning information related to Goswami’s proximity with the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) and members of the ruling BJP government, his efforts to manipulate TRPs in his channel’s favour and seek help from the government.
The chat also shows how Goswami and Dasgupta are playing tricks to boost the ratings of Republic TV. Some of the chats also show Goswami assuring help from the PMO with relations to the TRPs. it was found that a confidential BARC letter was sent by the former BARC CEO to Arnab Goswami saying that he had jammed the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) while Goswami allegedly replied he might meet the Prime Minister regarding the matter.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan has also shared the screenshot of the chat on his Twitter handle and said these are a few snapshots of the damning leaked WhatsApp chats between BARC CEO & Arnab Goswami. While Dasgupta dubs Union Minister Prakash Javadekar as “useless” in one the chats, Goswami purportedly says that “all ministers are with us” while discussing the channel’s chance of succeeding.
One could make from the chat, that Dasgupta was seen telling Goswami that Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) reform proposal to measure TV viewership digitally using special software installed in the set-top box would politically hurt both Republic channel and the BJP.
As per updates from Mumbai Police, Dasgupta misused his official position to manipulate TRP ratings and bring Republic TV to number 1 position.
Dasgupta was also seen asking Goswami to use his influence with the ruling party leaders to sabotage TRAI reform to install automatic digital measurement software and replace the manual system of meter installation households. As reported, Bombay High Court adjourned the hearing in the TRP scam case till January 29.
