Raw data analysis shows abnormal hike in Times Now's view time: ED

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet in a special court in Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in the TRP manipulation case that rocked the nation in 2020.

ED’s chargesheet has made several observations and statements of its findings following a detailed investigation over two years in the case, the most important of which is when it states that “As such, the role of Republic TV (ARG Outlier Media Group) in bribing/ influencing Panel HHs to watch Republic TV/ Republic Bharat has been investigated in detail. However, no such evidence is forthcoming either by the statement or by digital data evidence.”

ED stated that it recorded statements of 32 households that it had summoned under Section 50, “who confirmed having received money for watching certain channels”. The Directorate added, “Some of the statements were contrary to the statement given to Mumbai Police in as much that they denied watching Republic TV or Republic Bharat channels.”

The chargesheet mentions, “During the course of investigation, ED has come across certain leads indicating that certain households were watching News Nation and India Today channels in lieu of receiving cash amounts from RMs (relationship managers). Further investigation in this regard is under progress.”

ED has pointed out to “variance” in what the investigation by the Mumbai Police under former Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh found vis-à-vis what the Directorate’s own investigations revealed. Param Bir Singh’s statements were found to be “100% fabricated”. In a press conference on October 8, 2020, Singh had named three channels – Fakt Marathi, Box Cinema and Republic TV – that were reportedly involved in manipulating TV ratings. Mumbai Police stated that an FIR had been filed after a complaint was given in this regard by Hansa Research.

ED”s investigation revealed that what Hansa Research had mentioned in their original complaint was much different from what Param Bir Singh had mentioned in his press conference.

An analysis done by an auditor appointed by ED stated, “There is no indication of any intended modification of rankings that resulted in manipulation”.

After ED, now the CBI is investigating criminality leads in the TRP rigging case.

Vigilance proceedings against Times Now

The ED chargesheet mentions about the statement given by Dharamveer Mahecha, Head - Vigilance & Investigations, BARC India, wherein he inter alia stated that based on the inputs received from Data Science Team of BARC (now Measurement Science & Business Analytics Team), the Vigilance Team had initiated a field investigation against Bennett Coleman & Company (Times Network – Times Now). Mahecha said that the field investigation confirmed that some panel homes were allegedly approached by Times Now to watch their channel.

In response to a show cause notice issued on 21.11.2017 Times Network denied their involvement and again on 13.12.2017 “Times Network issued their response stating that they were not involved in the panel tampering and requested BARC to treat the matter as closed and to withdraw the show cause notice,” the chargesheet stated.

Mahecha further said that then BARC COO, Romil Ramgarhia was aware about the vigilance proceedings on Times Now.

The ED chargesheet goes on to state that on being asked whether the vigilance proceedings of Times Now was considered in the Forensic Report of BARC, Sunil Lulla, former CEO of BARC India, said that it was not considered as “he was not informed of the vigilance proceedings”.

What the examination of the forensic audit report revealed about Times Now

The ED chargesheet further stated, “...the fact remains that there are video recordings of certain households indulging in malpractices with respect to Times Now. A Show Cause was also issued to Times Now in this regard. This indicates certain irregularities vis-a-vis Times Now, which needs to be properly investigated.”

The ED chargesheet also pointed out the two Show Cause notices issued by BARC to Times Now dated 21.11.2017 and a further letter dated 07.12.2017, as well as Times Now’s responses to the same, basis which the Directorate said that “it is apparent that there three video clips of panel households wherein the panel households were supposedly indicating malpractices in viewing Times Now”.

ED added, “There was further raw data analysis, which showed abnormal increase in average time spent in watching Times Now vis-a-vis other English News channels. The time period of these alleged maleficence on part of Times Now coincides with the period taken in BARC audit report.”