Mumbai: ED launches money laundering investigation into TRP ‘scam’

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a money laundering probe into the alleged manipulation of Television Rating Points (TRP) by some news channels.

Sources said the ED has registered an enforcement case information report (ECIR), which is based on the first information report (FIR) registered by the Mumbai Police last month.

According to sources, the ED will probe whether illegal assets were acquired using money earned through the allegedly manipulated TRPs.

The Mumbai Police’s case is that Republic TV and two Marathi channels had allegedly paid to illegally boost their TRPs and thus earned profits illegally by getting higher rates for advertisements they earned due to high TRPs.