CBI takes up TRP probe

 The development comes at a time Mumbai police is already investigating a TRP manipulation case, in which it has summoned officials of Republic TV and two Marathi channels

PTI, TT Bureau   |   New Delhi   |   21.10.20  :  The CBI has registered an FIR in connection with alleged manipulation of Television Rating Points (TRP) on the Uttar Pradesh government’s recommendation, officials said on Tuesday.

The state government handed over to the CBI a case initially registered at Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station on a complaint from an ad agency, the officials said. The CBI FIR is against unknown persons.

The development comes at a time Mumbai police is already investigating a TRP manipulation case, in which it has summoned officials of Republic TV and two Marathi channels Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema.

Republic TV, which did not get protection from arrest for its editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami from Bombay High Court on Monday, has been demanding that the case be transferred to the CBI.

The TRP case appears to be following the pattern of the Sushant Singh Rajput case where too Mumbai police had begun a probe, but later Patna police filed an FIR and then the Bihar government recommended the case be transferred to the CBI.

The Centre backed the Bihar government’s recommendation and the CBI took over the case.

The agency has not reached any conclusion on the death of Sushant, it had said recently.