MUMBAI: Mumbai Police has arrested Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani in the alleged TRP manipulation case.
Recently, Republic TV Network has alleged that its Assistant Vice President (Distribution) Ghanshyam Singh, who was released on bail by a city court on December 5 in the TRP controversy case, was "tortured and assaulted" during interrogation by Mumbai police.
An interim application has been filed by Republic Media Network before Bombay High Court stating that Singh was lashed with "chakki belt" while he was in the custody of Mumbai Police. He was arrested on November 10 in connection with the alleged Television Rating Point (TRP) scam.
The interim application says that police force was saying in Marathi "inko maaro maro maro".
It says that Singh was forced to extend his hand before the police officers and he was whipped by a chakki belt three times (twice on the right hand and once on the left hand).
"It is thus clear that the methods of torture were preplanned and put in place even before Mr Singh's questioning commenced, given the room was already laden with the said torture tools. Mr Singh suffered immense pain and cried out loudly because of the force with which the police officer was lashing him but the subordinate police officers following the instruction of the senior police officer kept lashing him," the application says.
Singh had appeared before the Mumbai Police on October 9, October 11, October 20 and October 21 and was arrested by the Mumbai Police on November 10.
Earlier, Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami moved the Bombay High Court on Tuesday seeking a stay to further investigation by the Mumbai police in the alleged Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation scam.
The petition, filed by Goswami and ARG Outlier Media which owns Republic TV, also alleged that one of the employees of the firm was tortured by the police in custody.
It sought protection for all employees from the "malicious witch hunt" allegedly being carried out by the Maharashtra authorities.
(With PTI inputs)