CBI takes over probe into UP-origin complaint of alleged TRP manipulation
   Date :21-Oct-2020

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NEW DELHI :
 
In Mumbai, Crime Branch cops arrested two former employees of Hansa research agency in connection with the fake TRP racket 
 
THE CBI has registered an FIR into alleged manipulation of Television Rating Points (TRP) on the basis of a reference from the Uttar Pradesh Police. Whereas in Mumbai, Crime Branch cops arrested two former employees of Hansa research agency in connection with the fake TRP racket, an official said. This takes the number of arrested persons in the case to eight. Ramji Verma (41) and Dinesh Vishwakarma (37) were working with Hansa agency for a few years.
 
In UP, the case was earlier registered at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on a complaint of an advertising company promoter and was later handed over to the CBI by the Uttar Pradesh Government, they said. Taking prompt action, the CBI has registered an FIR against unidentified persons, they said. The primary allegations relate to manipulation of TRPs on a payment, they said.
 
The CBI officials refused to give any further details. TRP or Television Rating Points of a channel or programme are used to measure popularity by advertising agencies which affect pricing. The points are calculated in India by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) using a device installed in over 45,000 households across the country called “Bar-O-Meter”.