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Audit report confirms TRP manipulation by former BARC executives: Mumbai Police
NEW DELHI: Two months after the alleged TRP scam was busted by the Mumbai police, the department, in yet another sensational conference on Friday, claimed that a third party-conducted, Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC)-commissioned audit report of the ratings agency has confirmed that TRPs were manipulated under the previous management.
The report which was received by BARC in July was handed over to the Mumbai police last week, as stated by joint commissioner of police (crime) Milind Bharambe. The report, from May 2017 to November 2019, shows that TRPs of English and Telugu news channels had been tampered with.
The forensic audit was commissioned after new management took over at BARC in January this year and received whistle blower complaints, he added.
“BARC had received the report in July this year. The report said from a period of mid- 2017 to -November 2019 TRPs of English and Telugu news channels td. It showed that TRPs of channels like Times Now had been reduced so that Republic would appear to be no. 1 by analysing selectively,” Bharambe highlighted.
The report, he added, says that ratings appeared to have been pre-decided and accordingly data was manipulated using three methodologies: the outlier method, meta rule and channel audience control. It further revealed incriminating chats and emails between senior BARC officials the police said. Times Now which was on number 1 and was shown to be at No 2, and Republic as No1.
Bharambe says that tbe BARC audit vindicates what the police has been claiming all along about Republic being involved in fixing the ratings.
Republic TV has once again rebutted the claims and called the press conference “bogus” and their claims “laughable.”
In related news, BARC former CEO Partha Dasgupta was arrested by Mumbai Police and was sent to custody till 28 December. Before Dasgupta, former BARC COO Romil Ramgarhia and Republic Media Network CEO Vikas Khanchandan were also arrested in the case. While Ramgarhia was released on Thursday, Khanchandani was granted bail on 16 December.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
