NEW DELHI: Giving additional time to former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta to withdraw his bail application from the Supreme Court, the Bombay high court has adjourned the hearing on his bail plea to 15 February. Police claim Dasgupta is the so-called “mastermind” of the TRP manipulation racket which has thrown the news broadcast industry into tumult. 

Special public prosecutor Shishir Hirey opposed Dasgupta's appeal for interim bail, stating that he has also filed a bail plea in the Supreme Court and this move is nothing but “forum shopping."

However, Dasgupta's counsel informed the court that the petition was filed only on health grounds, “not on merit’ and they have already moved a praecipe before the apex court to withdraw the medical bail application by February 12.

Dasgupta was arrested by the crime branch of the Mumbai Police on 24 December. He is accused of misusing his official position at BARC to manipulate TRPs in favour of certain channels, primarily the Arnab Goswami-led Republic TV. A series of leaked WhatsApp chats between Dasgupta and Goswami also made headlines over the past weeks. In fact, Dasgupta himself admitted to accepting monetary favours from the journalist-cum-businessman and in exchange, rigged TV ratings in his channels’ favour. 

While most of the accused in the case, including former BARC COO Romil Ramgarhia and Republic CEO Vikas Khanchandani, are already out on bail, Dasgupta remains in custody on grounds that he might tamper with the evidence and witnesses.