File photo of Partho Dasgupta
NEW DELHI: Bombay high court on Tuesday granted bail to Partho Dasgupta, former Chief Executive Officer of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) in the alleged television ratings point (TRP) manipulation scam. Special public prosecutor Shishir Hirey had objected to the bail saying Dasgupta was the “mastermind’’ in the crime.
Justice PD Naik while granting bail observed that 15 accused were arrested and 14 have been granted bail including Romil Ramgadia Chief Operating officer of BARC, who the prosecution alleged had played a “vital role in manipulation of TRP”.
Dasgupta “cannot be incarcerated in custody till the arrest of another accused,’’ said Justice Naik.
Former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta.
Former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta was brought to the 8th Esplanade magistrate court in Mumbai by the crime branch for remand. The crime branch however did not seek his further remand.
Partho Dasgupta was then immediately sent to judicial custody for 14 days by magistrate AH Kashikar. Partho Dasgupta will be put up at a school before being transferred to jail as is the norm during the pandemic.
His lawyers have at once moved a bail application which will be heard on January 1. Dasgupta looked upset over the bail application not being heard on Wednesday itself. But his lawyer Girish Kulkarni assured him that the court which heard his remand on Wednesday was only an in-charge court as the regular court is on vacation.