TRP scam: Ex-Mumbai police officer moves court to restrain Republic TV from discussing FIR

New Delhi: A former top officer of Mumbai Police has filed a civil suit in a city court, seeking to restrain Republic TV, its editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, and sister Hindi channel R Bharat from discussing the first information report (FIR) registered by the force in connection with an alleged television rating points (TRP) scam.

In his plea, Iqbal Shaikh, a former assistant commissioner of police (ACP), also accused the channel of causing him 'mental agony' on account of its 'defamatory reports' against the force, seeking damages to the tune of Rs 5 lakh. Shaikh also accused Republic TV and R Bharat of launching a 'smear campaign' against Mumbai Police, adding that the channels' allegations aggrieved him as he 'takes pride in his legacy in the illustrious police force of Mumbai.'

News reports of the channels and the debates hosted by Arnab Goswami are done in complete violation of journalistic ethics, he has argued further in his plea. Shaikh, in his plea, has also taken objections to comments made by Goswami against Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

The case will be heard on Wednesday at 11am in courtroom number 4 in the city civil court.

The controversy pertains to a press conference addressed by Singh on October 8, in which he accused Republic TV and two Marathi channels of 'manipulating' TRPs. An FIR was registered in connection with the alleged scam a day before the press conference, on October 7.