TRP case: Bombay High Court adjourns hearing on bail plea of ex-BARC CEO

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday adjourned till February 9 the hearing on the bail plea of former BARC Broadcast Audience Research Council CEO Partho Dasgupta who is an accused in the alleged fake Television Rating Point TRP scamDasgupta who was arrested by the crime branch of the Mumbai Police on December 24 last year sought bail on parity arguing that all other accused persons in the case were out on bailOn Tuesday Dasguptas counsels Abad Ponda and Shardul Singh told the HC that the former BARC CEO suffered from a spinal problem and needed a medical attentionHe Dasgupta is not dying but it health is precarious and he needs a medical attention Ponda saidSpecial Public Prosecutor Shishir Hire asked the HC to grant some time since he was appointed to the case only on MondayHe told the high court that a similar bail plea filed by Dasgupta was pending hearing in the Supreme CourtDasguptas counsels however assured a bench presided over by Justice PD Naik that they will not go ahead with the plea in the apex courtJustice Naik took the statement on record and adjourned the hearing till February 9Dasgupta had sought bail on parity arguing that all other accused persons in the TRP case are out on bailHe had told the HC last week that Republic TV editor inchief Arnab Goswami was the prime accused in this scamDasgupta is accused of misusing his official position and conniving with ARG Outlier Media the company that runs all Republic TV channels and with Goswami to manipulate TRPsOn January 19 a sessions court in Mumbai rejected Dasguptas bail pleaAt that time sessions court judge MA Bhosale recorded in his order that though other accused persons were out on bail Dasguptas custodial interrogation was required since as per the case papers he seemed to be the mastermind of the caseJudge Bhosale had stated that Dasguptas custody was required as the police would need him to explain his WhatsApp chats with others accused or those named in the chargesheet in the caseFrom the case paper it is reflected that he Dasgupta is the mastermind of the entire crime the sessions judge had said in his orderHe Dasgupta is acting in capacity of CEO to manipulate television ratings through mechanical deviceand it is disclosed that he was in contact with a television channel owner he saidThe judge however said that before drawing any conclusions a thorough probe into the case and a face to face interrogation of Dasgupta was required and therefore he could not be let out on bailLast month Dasgupta had been rushed to the staterun JJ hospital in Mumbai from the Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai after his blood sugar levels went up and he fell unconsciousHe was discharged from the hospital ICU on the evening of January 22Following his discharge Dasguptas lawyers had moved the HC seeking an urgent hearing on his bail pleaThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever