In a sensational twist in the alleged TRP manipulation case, the Hansa Research Group, in a petition in Bombay High Court, has blamed encounter specialist Sachin Vaze for threatening its members to implicate Republic TV in the TRP case.
The Hansa Group also alleged that its promoter was threatened with arrest on October 26. It also accused the Mumbai Police of bias and prejudice.
Earlier, Hansa Vision (Not Hansa Research Group) had exposed Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and Mumbai Police’s lies by putting out a statement with the full facts and audit report.
The Hansa Vision had rejected the allegation of any illegal transaction between Republic TV and itself. It also clarified that it had been a recipient of any money from the Republic TV.
Param Bir Singh had held a press conference and falsely named Republic TV, despite its name was not mentioned in the FIR and remand copy. Instead, it named India Today.
Also, the Bombay High Court had acknowledged that Republic TV is not an accused in the case.
Who wants to trap Arnab in false TRP scam?
Soon after Republic TV exposed the lies of Param Bir Singh and Mumbai police, Broadcast Audience Research Council suspended TV viewership ratings for news channels, which was applauded by Rajat Sharma-led National Broadcasters Association.
This sentiment was disapproved by Arnab Goswami-led News Broadcasters Federation and attacked BARC for not consulting NBF before taking such a crucial decision.
It further asked BARC to pause its rating system across genres including general entertainment channels, sports, films and others.
In the flipside, NBA President Rajat Sharma approved BARC’s decision by saying that the body needed to overhaul its systems and restore credibility.
He also indirectly blamed Republic TV for creating an atmosphere of toxicity, abuse, and peddling fake news.
These differing views between the two broadcasters’ associations took a personal turn after Arnab Goswami challenged Rajat Sharma to one-on-one on India TV.
Is Rajat Sharma wary of Republic TV’s Growth?
Journalists supporting Arnab Goswami are raising this question because NBA has a history behind it.
In July 2020, Rajat Sharma had written to BARC regarding the unprecedented growth of viewership of Hindi News channel TV9 Bharatvarsh and also substantial swings in the English genre.
TV9 Bharatvarsh had climbed to a strong No. 2 spot among Hindi News genre during the peak lockdown period, which was questioned by the NBA.
The NBA, however, succeeded in forcing TV9 Network to toe its line after it decided not to pursue the matter legally against NBA.
Probably, Rajat Sharma could have tried to muzzle Republic Bharat, which is number one Hindi news channel, way ahead of his own India TV. This is the general suspicion among the people and journalists supporting Arnab Goswami.
The Rajat Sharma and Arnab Goswami rivalry
Obviously, Arnab Goswami has all the right to be furious against Rajat Sharma, who had everything to talk about Republic TV, but not India Today, which was implicated in the TRP scam.
Why did Rajat Sharma not speak a word against India Today if he had taken a moral stand against Republic TV? Is there any clandestine understanding between India Today and Rajat Sharma to fix Arnab Goswami? What’s cooking between the two?
These are some questions raised by the people and also in media circles, who support Republic TV.
The challenge thrown by Arnab Goswami at Rajat Sharma has its origins in a legal battle between them.
Rajat Sharma’s team had put all their might behind trying to block former India TV’s anchor Sucherita Kukreti from anchoring on Republic Bharat. It suffered a massive blow after the Delhi High Court dismissed India TV’s injunction application against Sucherita Kukreti.
Rajat Sharma, it appears, does not take an insult lying down. Can anyone forget Rajat Sharma and 43 of his colleagues walking off in a huff from the newsroom of Zee News owing to differences with the management led by media Mogul Subash Chandra?
Rajat Sharma had quit his 7 pm news bulletin was unceremoniously scrapped by Zee TV.
Subhash Chandra had to close down the bulletin as it had coincided with a news bulletin on Star Plus. Rupert Murdoch had picked up a 49.5 percent equity stake in Hong Kong-based ATL, which had leased a transponder for Zee TV on Asiasat-1.
Rajat Sharma’s exit proved to be a bad omen for Subhash Chandra as he was the moving force behind Zee News and was instrumental in setting up its news and current affairs division.