NHRC, MHRC Take Cognizance Of Alleged Torture Of Republic TV's AVP Ghanshaym Singh & CEO Vikas Khanchandani

While the MHRC has sought a detailed report from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch over the arrest of CEO Vikas Khanchandani on Sunday and has asked to justify his action, on the other hand, the NHRC has issued stern notice to the Director-General of Police Maharashtra Police Headquarters over the alleged torture of Assistant Vice President Ghanshyam Singh.

NHRC Notice to Director-General of Police Maharashtra Police Headquarters

The Notice issued by the NHRC states,

"The complainant Shri Arnab Goswami, a renowned journalist as well as Editor-in-chief and Managing Director of Republic Media Network, ARG Outlier Media Private Limited has alleged false implication, arbitrary arrest, physical assault in police custody and mental torture of Shri Ghanshyam Singh, Assistant Vice-President of Distribution of the Republic Media Network."

The Notice further states,

"It has been stated that Shri Ghanshyam Singh was arbitrarily picked up on 10th November, 2020 from his home in relation to FIR No. 143 of 2020 registered at the DCB, CID, Crime Branch Mumbai (TRP case), although, the FIR neither named him, his affiliation nor his organization. On the second day of his custody, he was subjected to extreme mental cruelty when he refused to comply with the premeditated script of the police. He was taken into a room laden with a tool to torture, where he was brutally and barbarically whipped with a chakki belt, forced to extend his hands, and then lashed by a thick injury-inflicting chakki belt multiple times on both the hands. Even the victim cried and writhed in pain while the police officer was lashing him, they did not stop and kept the agony and continued the assault in presence of other police officials."

In light of the Allegations, the Notice further states,

"As per the allegations, a senior police officer was instructing for the physical torture and they were trying to coerce the victim to make false statements to incriminate himself and his organization. Shri Ghanshyam Singh was also paraded like a terrorist with his face covered in a black cloth while taken to court. It has been further alleged that as part of a witch-hunt against the Republic Media Network and in an attempt to fix investigations in a prejudged manner, all semblance of due process has been shunned and devious means of torture are being used. The complainant has requested an urgent intervention of the Commission in this matter, justice to the victim for violation of his human rights by police and to protect the news agencies whose members have been physically tortured in the custody by the State officials."

Issuing directions to the DGP, the notice further added,

"The Commission notices that there are allegations of physical torture, false implication and mental harassment of the office bearer of an eminent Media House, which cannot be acceptable in a democratic country like India.

The NHRC, thus, issued a Notice to the Director General of Police, Maharashtra, Mumbai to have the allegations of false implication and custodial torture be inquired by a senior IPS officer of his choice, other than the CID Branch or posted within the municipal area of Greater Mumbai, and submit a detailed report to the Commission within four weeks.

The Notice has also been issued to the Director General/ Inspector General of Prisons, Maharashtra, who is directed to send a copy of the initial health screening report of the victim Shri Ghanshyam Singh at the time of his admission in jail along with his entire medical treatment record during his stay in the custody within 4 weeks.

The complainant has been asked required to inform the Commission, and also submit supporting documents, if any, if the victim has received any medical treatment, and also if the victim has informed the concerned Court regarding the alleged torture when he was produced before the Court.

It may be noted that on 05^th December, the City Civil and Sessions Court, Greater Bombay on Saturday (05th December), had granted bail to Republic Media Network's Assistant Vice President Ghanshyam Singh

He was arrested on 10th November in connection with TRP Scam Case, for alleged manipulation of ratings to show the news channel and its programmes as the most watched.

Yesterday, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court Mumbai remanded Republic TV Chief Executive Officer Vikas Khanchandani for two days police custody in the fake TRP Scam case registered by Mumbai Police.

About TRP Scam

On October 8, the Mumbai Police Commissioner, Param Bir Singh, claimed to have busted a racket that involved private television channels manipulating their Television Rating Points, or TRP.

"Investigation reveals that Republic TV, Fakth Marati and Box Cinema have indulged in such activities", the Mumbai police said in a statement.

According to the police, they had received a complaint in early October from Hansa Research, a company appointed by the Broadcast Audience Research Council or BARC, which installs "people meters" to track viewership. The company had said some former employees had shared details of the households being tracked and helped rig ratings.

The Commissioner said that an FIR has been registered at Kandivali Police Station for offences of criminal breach of trust (Section 409), cheating (420) and criminal conspiracy (120B) under the Indian Penal Code.

ARG Outlier Ltd and Goswami had approached the Supreme Court challenging the FIR. However, the apex court refused to entertain the petition and asked them to approach the Bombay High Court first.

Earlier, in October 2020, The Mumbai City Civil and Sessions Court had granted bail to Shirish Pattanshetty, the owner of Fakt Marathi, one of the channels accused in the Television Rating Point (TRP) scam case registered by Mumbai police.

Additional Sessions Judge PR Sitre granted bail to Pattanshetty on a PR bond of Rs.50,000. FIR was registered at Kandivali police station against the accused under sections 409, 420, 120 B read with Section 34 of Indian Penal Code. On October 8, Pattanshetty was arrested and his application for bail was initially rejected by the Esplanade Court.

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