India's federal agency steps in to probe fake TV ratings scam

NEW DELHI, Oct 21 (UNB): India's Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday stepped in to probe the television rating points or TRP scam, a case that has reignited the debate on unfair means being adopted by a few media houses in this country for gaining advertisement revenues.

"The federal agency has registered a first information report in the case, which is currently being investigated by police in the Indian city of Mumbai," a senior official told UNB. It was the Mumbai Police that had first accused one of the country's leading 24-hour English news channels, Republic TV, and two other local electronic media houses of rigging ratings.

In fact, Republic TV had been demanding a federal probe in the case since Mumbai Police announced the "major probe" against the three news channels for their alleged involvement in the scandal.