TRP SCAM-Partho Das Gupta's Condition Stable: Mumbai Police Tells Bombay High Court, Bail Hearing Adjourned

The State informed The Bombay High Court on Monday that Ex- Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) CEO Patho Dasgupta is "stable" in the Taloja Prison Hospital after his discharge from the state run JJ Hospital. Justice PD Naik, hearing Dasgupta's bail application had, on Friday sought a report on his health be placed on record, while refusing to intervene in his transfer from JJ Hospital to Taloja prison. He is an accused in the Television Rating Point(TRP) Scam. The court adjourned the hearing on Dasgupta's bail application for February 2 as the detailed order of the Sessions Court, rejecting his bail application was yet to be made available, and relevant portions of the 5,000 page charge sheet also needed to be placed on record. A graduate from IIM Calcutta, Partho Dasgupta's was the CEO of Broadcast Audience Research Council ("BARC") between June 2013 and November 2019. He was arrested on December 24, 2020 by the Mumbai Police and charged under sections 409(criminal breach of trust by a public servant), 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. The hearing on Monday began with Justice Naik enquiring about Dasgupta's health. "His health is stable now." Public Prosecutor Deepak Thakre appearing on behalf of the State said. Counsel Shardul Singh for Dasgupta then informed the court that a detailed copy of the sessions court order rejecting his bail application has still not been made available. "But he suffers ankylosing spondylitis & ketoacidosis where he becomes unconscious." The court then sought to know if the chargesheet had been filed. The defence and prosecution said they would submit relevant portions of the chargesheet on record as it was a bulky document(5,000 pages). Singh said that according to them the main allegation against Dasgupta is a forensic audit report by a third party which claims he turned a blind eye to the alleged TRP manipulation. He further said that all the other accused in the case have already been granted bail. "Who is the main accused?," Justice Naik asked. "Arnab Goswami," Singh said about the founding editor of Republic TV, whose chats with Dasgupta have been cited as evidence in the chargesheet. Thakre said that it is their case that Dasgupta is the mastermind. The case was then adjourned.

TRP SCAM-Partho Das Gupta's Condition Stable: Mumbai Police Tells Bombay High Court, Bail Hearing Adjourned

Sharmeen Hakim

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