[Breaking] TRP Scam: Republic TV challenge to Mumbai Police summons dismissed as withdrawn, channel to approach Bombay High Court

The petition in the Supreme Court filed by Republic TV challenging the summons issued to the channel by the Mumbai Police in relation to the TRP scam has been dismissed as withdrawn..The matter was heard today by a Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee..At the outset, Justice Chandrachud told Senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Republic,"Your client's office is in Worli, you can go to Flora Fountain and approach the Bombay High Court under Article 226.".Justice Malhotra agreed, saying,"We are only saying approach the High Court first.".Justice Chandrachud then expressed concern as to how police commissioners are giving interviews to the press these days..Salve then agreed to withdraw the petition. Republic TV is now likely to approach the Bombay High Court to seek relief in the matter..The petition that has now been withdrawn challenged the October 9 summons issued to the CFO of the Republic Media Network in relation to investigation in the TRP Scam case.The CFO had requested the Mumbai Police to halt its probe in relation to the network and its employees till the matter is heard in the Supreme Court..Republic TV had issued a public statement asserting that the channel has not even been named in the FIR, and that only India Today has been named. It has thus questioned why it is being dragged into the case..In its affidavit filed in response to this plea, the Mumbai Police said that Republic TV is attempting to turn the TRP scam case into a “media spectacle”, and that rights under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution cannot act be used as a shield against commission of a crime..The affidavit states that the allegations contained in the FIR cannot be decided at this stage of the proceedings and that there is “no exceptional circumstance which warrants the interference of the Court under Article 32”..Republic TV making TRP Scam a "media spectacle", 19(1)(a) cannot be a shield against commission of crime: Mumbai Police to Supreme Court.Pointing to the fact that officers of several TV channels were summoned in the case, the Police has submitted that all have been co-operating in the investigation.“None of the TV channels have raised any grievance with regard to the investigation being carried out by Mumbai police. Line of interrogation or investigation cannot be dictated by the persons who are being investigated.”