Partho Dasgupta was arrested from Pune on December 24, 2020, and is at present lodged within the Taloja Central Jail.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday reserved its order on a bail plea filed by Partho Dasgupta, former chief govt officer of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), who’s an accused within the Television Rating Point (TRP) manipulation case.
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A single bench of justice PD Naik was listening to Mr. Dasgupta’s plea filed below part 439 (particular powers of High Court or Court of Session relating to bail) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. It sought bail on deserves because the cost sheet within the case has been filed.
Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray opposed the bail on the grounds that WhatsApp chats had been leaked wherein there have been conversations between him and the Prime Minister’s Office, which confirmed that he was an influential particular person and will tamper with proof and sway witnesses who have been both former or present staff of BARC.
The WhatsAPP chats revealed that Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami and Mr. Dasgupta have been thick pals and that Mr. Goswami had referred to as him his alter ego, Mr. Hiray mentioned.
However, Mr. Dasgupta’s counsel Aabad Ponda mentioned the chats have been mere “loose talks” and reliance shouldn’t be positioned upon as they weren’t admissible. “The whole Republic TV group is protected, and I am behind bars,” he mentioned.
Also learn: Arnab’s chats: Maharashtra seeking legal opinion for action, says Minister
Pointing out the function performed by co-accused and BARC’s chief working officer Romil Ramgarhia, Mr. Ponda argued that he had an equally vital function and he was an lively participant. However, he had been granted bail.
Mr. Dasgupta was arrested from Pune on December 24, 2020, and is at present lodged within the Taloja Central Jail. On January 20, the City Civil and Sessions Court rejected his bail and on January 4, the extra chief metropolitan Justice of the Peace too rejected his bail.
He has been charged with sections 409 (felony breach of belief by public servant, or by banker, service provider or agent), 420 (dishonest and dishonestly inducing supply of property), 406 (punishment for felony breach of belief), 465 (punishment for forgery), 468 (forgery for objective of dishonest), 201 (inflicting disappearance of proof of offence, or giving false info to display offender), 204 (destruction of doc or digital file to stop its manufacturing as proof), and 212 (harbouring offender) of the Indian Penal Code.
