Business
Mumbai police arrest former BARC COO in connection with fake TRP case
Romil Ramgarhia
Mumbai Police on Thursday arrested Romil Ramgarhia, former Chief Operating Officer (COO), of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) in connection with the fake TRP (Television Rating Points) case.
Ramgarhia was arrested by the Mumbai crime branch on Thursday afternoon and was produced before a metropolitan magistrate court, which has sent him in police custody till December 19.
During the probe, Ramgarhia’s alleged involvement in the case came to light, following which he was placed under arrest today, a police official told PTI.
Being the 14th person to get arrested in the case, Ramgarhia made an exit from his post in BARC in July this year after being associated with BARC for six years.
Ramgarhias arrest come a day after Republic TV Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vikas Khanchandani was granted bail in his connection with the case.
Mumbai Police began a probe into the alleged TRP scam, after the rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) filed a complaint through Hansa Research Agency about malpractices performed by some channels in obtaining fake Television Rating Points (TRP).
Hansa Research then filed a complaint and an FIR was registered for offences punishable under Sections 409, 420, 120 B, 465, 468, 406, 174, 179, 201, 204, 212 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at Kandivali police station and the investigation was transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch.
In the complaint, it was alleged that some of the families were being bribed to watch certain channels, which helped them boost their TRP. In a charge sheet filed recently, the police claimed Hansa Research Agency paid money to multiple households to tune into Box Cinema, Fakt Marathi, Maha Movie and Republic TV.
However, Republic TV media network has denied all the allegations.
Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) added 25 additional beds in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital Kalwa apart from arranging a special ward dedicated to COVID-19 patients. The total number of active patients in the city stood at 252 while five succumbed to the virus. Meanwhile, TMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said a ‘death audit’ of patients who died of COVID would be conducted. The TMC has ensured it has additional stock of oxygen concentrators, testing kits, medicines, to name a few. Bangar told HT, “Due to the increasing number of Covid patients, it is necessary for everyone to be alert.”
He added, The number of Covid tests should be increased to stay one step ahead of the disease. As a result, the number of patients is likely to increase due to increased testing. However, as per the ‘test, isolate, treat’ protocol for Covid, it becomes necessary to isolate and treat more and more patients. The testing centres will not remain closed even for a single day. At the same time, more arrangements for testing will be made immediately in public places, markets, railway stations, malls.”
India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.
Also read: Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours
Politics
After Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification, his namesake who contested from Wayanad disqualified
Rahul Gandhi
An independent candidate for Lok Sabha elections named Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from contesting polls for failing to lodge account of election expenses. Gandhi, who’s name figures as ‘Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma’ in an Election Commission list of persons, had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent and had received 2196 votes from the Wayanad seat in Kerala – a constituency from where ex-Congress MP Rahul Rajiv Gandhi had won with over seven lakh votes.
However, since it is mandatory for all contestants to submit their account of election expenses among other mandatory requirements under EC rules and the Representation of the People Act.
Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma stood disqualified to contest polls from September 13, 2021 till September 13, 2024. According to Section 10A, the Election Commission can disqualify a contestant for a period of three years from the date of the order if he/she has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by law and has no good reason or justification for the failure.
Also read: ‘CBI under UPA govt. pressurised me to frame Modi,’ recalls Amit Shah
A total of 22 patients tested positive for COVID-19 in Nagpur in past 24 hours on Thursday. Almost 242 people were tested in the city, out of which 15 belonged to urban area while and 6 were from the rural areas, and one from outside Nagpur district.
At present, there are 72 active patients in the city. Three new cases of the new XBB.1.16 variant of COVID-19 were detected that took the total tally to five in the district.
India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.
Also read: CELESTIAL! Unique alignment of Moon and 5 planets
Thane Municipal Corporation adds 25 beds as COVID cases rise
After Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification, his namesake who contested from Wayanad disqualified
Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours
‘CBI under UPA govt. pressurised me to frame Modi,’ recalls Amit Shah
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