The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC) have taken 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 stated as under:
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 , although, the FIR neither named him, his affiliation nor 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 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. NHRC issued a notice to Maharashtra's Director General of Police pertaining to the arrest of @republic Media Network's Assistant Vice President Ghanshyam Singh. 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.
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, 2020, 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. 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 scam case registered by Mumbai police.
On October 8, 2020, Pattanshetty was arrested and his application for bail was initially rejected by the Esplanade Court.
