On Saturday, The Chief Financial Officer of Republic TV has been called in for questioning by the Mumbai Police in the investigation into allegations that the television channel paid viewers to game its ratings and illegally earn more ad revenue.
Shiva Subramaniyam Sundaram is the first senior management official of the TV network to be summoned in the scandal that erupted on Thursday with the Mumbai Police revealing that an agency which tracks viewership had alleged that the numbers were being fudged by certain channels.
The police said they intend to carry out a forensic audit of Republic TV’s accounts and the summons to Mr Sundaram contend that there are reasonable grounds to believe that he is acquainted with certain facts and circumstances of the matter.
The police have also summoned accountants of the two other channels and those from a couple of advertising agencies.
Four people, including owners of the two smaller channels have already been arrested in the case. The police have said the accounts of Republic TV and the others could be frozen if it was established that the channels made advertising money using rigged ratings.
