Arnab Goswami paid Partho Dasgupta Rs 40 lakh to manipulate TRP: Charge sheet

Agencies
January 25, 2021

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After a series of WhatsApp messages between Arnab Goswami and Partho Dasgupta was exposed, including some with bearing on national security, a startling disclosure has now come to light -- an exchange of money between the two was also involved.

Dasgupta was the chief executive officer of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) from June, 2013-November, 2019, while Goswami is the editor-in-chief of Republic Media Network.

Dasgupta, who was arrested by the Crime Intelligence Unit of CID, Mumbai Police, has, in a statement, revealed that he received a total of Rs 40 lakh and $12,000 from Goswami over three years for manipulating TRPs.

The statement is part of the supplementary charge sheet that the Mumbai Police has filed vis-a-vis the TRP scam.

It may be mentioned that in the remand application too, the CIU has indicated that the TRPs were manipulated by way of a criminal conspiracy.

The Mumbai Police, when contacted, refused to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said Goswami was driving an agenda to destabilise the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra on the basis of false TRP ratings.

“He had a clear agenda to manipulate the minds of viewers against the MVA leaders and the government,” he said.

Tapase added: “It is distressing to note that Arnab Goswami who portrayed himself as an anchor to stand by the truth and to expose irregularities in the government has himself used unfair and manipulative ways and means to further his business interests thereby earning huge profits through coercive means. The media is considered as the fourth estate of democracy and is looked upon by the citizens as torchbearers of truth. Such attempts of manipulation have left the Indian viewers aghast.”

Lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, who had tweeted about the Arnab-Partho WhatsApp chats, said: “The Don is missing! "Arnab Goswami paid me $12,000 and Rs 40 lakh to fix ratings: Partho Dasgupta. A 3,600-page supplementary chargesheet, filed by Mumbai Police includes a BARC forensic audit report, WhatsApp chats and statements of 59 persons".

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News Network
December 16,2024

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Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla virtuoso, passed away on Monday in a San Francisco hospital at the age of 73. Hussain’s family confirmed his death was due to complications arising from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare and progressive lung disease. He had been hospitalized for two weeks and moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his health deteriorated.

Hussain, widely celebrated for his unparalleled contribution to Indian classical music, is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, a noted Kathak dancer, and their daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.

What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis? 
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease affecting the tissue around the lungs' air sacs (alveoli), causing it to thicken and stiffen. This permanent scarring, known as fibrosis, progressively makes breathing difficult. The term "idiopathic" indicates that the condition has no known cause, according to the American Lung Association.

Symptoms and Risk Factors 
IPF symptoms often start subtly but worsen over time. Common signs include persistent coughing and shortness of breath. Risk factors include:
•    Smoking
•    A family history of IPF
•    Advanced age

While some individuals experience slow disease progression, others may face rapid worsening or sudden flare-ups called acute exacerbations. Complications such as pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure are common in advanced cases.

Treatment and Management 
Although there is no cure for IPF, treatments aim to slow disease progression, improve lung function, and enhance quality of life. The NHS recommends the following lifestyle adjustments for managing IPF:
•    Quit smoking: Improves lung health significantly.
•    Stay active: Regular exercise enhances overall fitness.
•    Eat a balanced diet: Supports the body’s health.
•    Get vaccinated: Annual flu and pneumococcal vaccines help prevent severe lung infections.
•    Avoid infections: Minimize exposure to people with respiratory illnesses.

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News Network
December 13,2024

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Minister of military affairs Israel Katz has ordered Israeli troops to "prepare to remain" throughout the winter in Syria including the strategic Jabal al-Shaykh mountain which they occupied after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. 

In an announcement on Friday, Katz said he had issued the order during an assessment the previous day with the Israeli army's chief of staff Herzi Halevi, and other officers.

"Due to the situation in Syria, it is of critical security importance to maintain our presence at the summit of Mount Hermon [Jabal al-Shaykh], and everything must be done to ensure the (army's) readiness on-site to enable the troops to stay there despite the challenging weather conditions," he said.

Israel started its push to grab more Syrian land on Sunday, after foreign-backed militants led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) announced the fall of President Assad’s government following a rapid two-week onslaught.

Israeli forces seized the so-called buffer zone, which separates the occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria, in violation of a 1974 disengagement agreement. The occupation forces have entered several towns in Quneitra, forcibly evacuating residents. 

They occupied the summit of Jabal al-Shaykh which provides an observation point for areas in Syria and Lebanon. It rises to 9,232 feet (2,814 meters) and is the highest point on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Israeli troops have advanced beyond the so-called buffer zone toward Damascus, with the regime's warplanes conducting hundreds of aerial assaults on Syria.

Katz had earlier said that the regime was planning a "sterile defense zone" in southern Syria. Several regional countries said Israel is taking advantage of the chaotic situation in Syria to expand its occupation of the Arab state.

Israeli soldiers entered the town of al-Hurriya in Quneitra province on Thursday. Local sources said Israeli forces also carried out a forced evacuation of the residents of the village of Rasem al-Ruwadi in the region. 

On Wednesday evening, Israeli forces stormed the towns of Ruwaihinah and Umm Batna in the central countryside of Quneitra as well.

Residents of the town said the occupying regime forces asked them to evacuate their homes to annex them to the so-called buffer zones. The incursion involved tanks and infantry units, during which several houses were searched. 

Many Syrians and others watching the fast-moving pace of events say Netanyahu is using this moment of change in their country to permanently seize further territory.

“They are saying they will give it back, but they are already occupying the Golan Heights which they haven’t given back. What would make you believe they will give this back?” Haid Haid, a senior consulting associate fellow at Chatham House, told Middle East Eye. 

Israel has wiped out Syrian naval vessels, sea-to-sea missiles, helicopters and planes, including the entire fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets and stockpiles of ammunition in attacks on at least five air bases.

Reports say Israel and militant groups in Syria have previously come to successful arrangements whereby Israel provided emergency aid and medical care to militants so long as the groups did not attack the Zionist regime.

In a note to correspondents issued on Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he is "deeply concerned" over "extensive violations" of Syrian sovereignty.

The UN chief also said he is "particularly concerned over the hundreds of Israeli airstrikes on several locations in Syria." 

He further stressed that the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria “remains in force” and that it must be upheld by "ending all unauthorized presence in the area of separation and refraining from any action that would undermine the ceasefire and stability in Golan.”

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News Network
December 13,2024

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted bail to the prime accused actors Darshan Thoogudeepa Srinivas and Pavithra Gowda in the Renukaswmy murder case.

Justice S Vishwajith Shetty said that all the petitions have been allowed.

The other accused in the case, Nagaraju, Anu Kumar, Lakshman, Jagadeesh alias Jagga and R Pradoosh Rao have also been granted bail.

Renukaswamy was found dead on June 8, 2024. He was working in a medical shop in Chitradurga. The accused had kidnapped and allegedly murdered him in a shed at Pattanagere in R R Nagar police station limits of Bengaluru city for sending obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda.

The actor was arrested on June 11 this year. He was earlier lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bengaluru, but when a photograph went viral showing him relaxing with some of the jail inmates, he was transferred to Ballari Central Jail.

Darshan is presently hospitalised for alleged back pain.

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