Hansa Research Group files police complaint against ex-employee on TRP issue

Hansa Research Group and Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), which conducted an investigation into the matter of the Television Rating Points (TRP) in the last few weeks, have filed an FIR against an ex-employee who was engaged in some wrongdoing, Hansa Research CEO, Praveen Nijhara said on Thursday.

In an official statement, Hansa CEO said, "Hansa Research has always been vigilant about these issues and has been proactive in informing BARC and the law enforcement agencies as and when such cases have come to our notice. We would continue to cooperate with BARC and with the authorities as and when called upon to do so."

This statement by Hansa follows today's media briefing by Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, in which he claimed to have busted a racket that involved private television channels mpulating their TRPs.

The police action was launched on a complaint from Hansa, the firm contracted by BARC, to place audience measurement meters to trace television channels that are being watched by households.

Singh said about 30,000 such meters had been installed across India, of which 2,000 were in Mumbai. He said the Mumbai police found that several people where these meters were placed were "paid money to tune in to a selected channel".

He further said owners of two local channels had been arrested along with an ex-employee of Hansa, who is suspected of leaking the communication about the meters placed in the households.

The case has been registered in the Kandivali police station. The accused were produced in the court and sent to police custody till October 9.

( With inputs from ANI )