Mumbai: Three of the four witnesses presented before a magistrate claimed that Republic TV made payments to them for keeping the channel on for a fixed duration to increase its viewership ratings, police officials investigating the TRP scam said.
While the fourth witness made similar allegations against Box Cinema.
Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh confirmed that three witnesses have named Republic officials in the rigging of the TRPs.
“The statements were made by the witnesses under Section 164 of the CrPC, which deals with recording and confession of statements by a metropolitan magistrate or judicial magistrate during the course of the investigation,” police informed.
Five arrests have been made so far in the case. Three, including a former employee of Hansa Research, have confessed to being part of the racket and making payments to households.
Republic TV, Box Cinema and Fakt Marathi are being currently investigated in the TRP scam.
