Mumbai: Supreme Court has refused the Republic TV’s petition of seeking CBI probe on alleged rigging viewership ratings scam and asked to approach Bombay High Court. The Republic TV filed a petition requesting a CBI probe. However, Mumbai police have opposed the petition citing that the channel is making attempts to impede the police investigations in the case.
Mumbai Police in an advance petition filed in the Supreme Court late last night said that Republic TV is abusing the process of law by conducting programmes in the case and “intimidating the witnesses”.
The police criticized the channel and Arnab Goswami (Republic TV’s editor-in-chief) for interfering in the investigation process. In the affidavit, it has also accused the channel of conducting debates that involve meddling in free and fair probe, contacting invading privacy of witnesses. Republic TV’s demand to transfer the probe to CBI is misconceived. Mumbai Police pointed out that “Freedom of speech right cannot be invoked into an alleged crime. Right under Article 19(1) freedom of speech cannot be a shield against probe”.
A three-judge bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee heard the Republic TV’s petition through a video link today and dismissed it. It has asked the channel to approach the Bombay high court.
The police have summoned a number of officials of several channels in the case. Along with Republic TV, Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema are also part of its probe into the alleged manipulation of ratings. Currently, the Mumbai Police is investigating the role of these three channels.
On other hand, Republic channel’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami had said they will sue Mumbai Police for the allegations as not a single BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) report mentions Republic TV. “The people of India know the truth. BARC has not mentioned Republic in any complaint,” he added.