On Sunday, December 13, the crime branch of Mumbai Police arrested Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani in connection with the fake TRP scam case. Kanchandani is the thirteenth person to be arrested in the case after Arnab Goswami and Ghanshyam Singh.
The channel’s distribution head, Ghanshyam Singh, was granted bail in the same case a week earlier. Khanchandani was earlier summoned by the crime branch for questioning in the month of October. He was reportedly arrested from his residence. As per reports, Vikas Khanchandani was allegedly a part of Republic TV's internal WhatsApp group where discussions about LCN (Landing Channel Number) and Promotion LCN took place.
In response to the recent developments, Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami has asserted that the "law is on our side." Goswami stated, that despite the "malicious attempts by the Maharashtra government" to threaten Republic Media Network to leave Maharashtra and Mumbai, the network will continue to broadcast from India's financial capital. Moreover, the controversial journalist roared in Marathi stating that "Mumbai is the land where I work" and he will not leave Maharashtra.
Earlier on December 8, Goswami moved the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on Mumbai Police’s investigations into the alleged TRP scam. According to sources, in the petition filed by Goswami, the Editor-in-Chief alleged that Republic Media Network's Assistant Vice President Ghanshyam Singh who was earlier arrested on November 10 was “tortured, beaten and harassed” in custody. Singh was lodged at the Taloja Central Jail after Mumbai Police's Crime Branch arrested Goswami from his residence.
Moreover, the channel claimed that the entire controversy is nothing but an alleged witch hunt which is being conducted by the Maharashtra government. As a result, Goswami has asked for the transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or any other independent agency, according to the petition.
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