In a handwritten statement to Mumbai Police former CEO of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, Partho Dasgupta claimed that Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami gave him US$12,000 for two separate holidays and a total of Rs 40 lakh over three years. This bribe was given to manipulate the ratings in favour of the news channel as per the supplementary chargesheet filed in the TRP scam case, reported by Indian Express.
Mumbai Police filed the 3,600-page supplementary chargesheet on January 11. This charge sheet includes a BARC forensic audit report, WhatsApp chats purportedly between Dasgupta and Goswami, and statements of 59 persons, including former council employees and cable operators.
Apart from Republic, Times Now, and Aaj Tak, are also named in the audit report for alleged manipulation.
According to Indian Express, Dasgupta’s statement reads: “I have known Arnab Goswami since 2004. We used to work together in Times Now. I joined BARC as CEO in 2013. Arnab Goswami launched Republic in 2017. Even before launching Republic TV he 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 I know how the TRP system works. He also alluded to helping me out in the future.”
Arnab Goswami paid for two family trips for Partho Dasgupta
It states: “I worked with my team to ensure manipulation of TRP ratings that made Republic TV get 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 lawyer Arjun Singh said: “We totally deny this allegation as the statement would have been recorded under duress. It does not have any evidentiary value in the court of law.” When contacted by Indian Express, a member of Goswami’s legal team declined to comment. Goswami has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and alleged he was being targeted.
