Mumbai: Srinivasan K. Swamy, President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), has defended his nomination to the Board of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India in an email addressed to one of his critics. In the communication to Tanya Goyal, Swamy refutes allegations levelled against both him and Hansa Research.
In the email, Swamy states that Hansa Research Group (HRG) was the complainant that brought the 2020 TRP scandal to light, rather than a party implicated in it. He writes that the company pushed for a broader investigation into the network behind the manipulation, rather than simply dismissing the employee involved.
Swamy further states that Hansa Research filed a criminal writ petition in the Bombay High Court after alleging harassment by the Mumbai Police, and that the Court ultimately exonerated Hansa Research — a claim he describes as verifiable through court records.
The email also addresses Tanya Goyal’s disappointment over her husband, Dr Sandeep Goyal, not receiving an industry award, and explains the circumstances behind the jury’s decision. Swamy states that award nominations, including Dr Goyal’s candidacy, were decided by an independent jury and were not within his personal control. He writes that he understands her frustration but says he does not have the authority to direct jury outcomes.
Swamy’s email frames this episode as relevant context to the criticism directed at him, suggesting a connection between the unsuccessful award bid and the subsequent allegations against him and AAAI.
Reproducing the entire letter for stakeholders:
“Mrs. Tanya Goyal,
As usual, you have embarked on a personal vilification campaign against me without being backed by facts.
Hansa Research Group (HRG) was actually the Complainant. The entire scandal came to light because of HRG. On October 6, 2020, Hansa’s Deputy General Manager, Nitin Deokar, discovered internal malpractice and filed an FIR with the Mumbai Police. The complaint alleged that a former relationship manager (field executive) of HRG had compromised data to rig TRPs and sought broader police investigation. While any other Company would have at the most, dismissed the errant Employee, HRG took the high road and sought an investigation to book the larger network or criminals involved in it. We underwent the unpleasant ordeal of legal hassles but did not compromise on ethics.
At a press conference by Param Bir Singh, Mumbai Commissioner of Police on 8th October 2020, he accused three channels of manipulating TRPs. Another important player in this case was Sachin Waze, Assistant Police Inspector. Pertinently, they both were dismissed from service after investigation of their role in extortion. We played an important part in bringing the truth out and it is sad that half-baked Google research should make you arrive at conclusions contrary to Judicial records.
Hansa Research filed a Criminal Writ Petition in Bombay High Court against Mumbai Police when they started harassing our senior people and wanted our “statements” to frame certain channels. Our case was so strong that Mumbai Police had to run for cover and there was pressure on us to withdraw the case. We stood firm and the Court had to exonerate us from any wrongdoing. This is verifiable from Court records.
I am unhappy that I could not accede to your request to help you secure an Award for your husband. Unfortunately, BW-Businessworld/Anurag Batra/E4Media, have also been able to support your husband only from outside. The 3 identical nominations that you had arranged for Dr Sandeep Goyal, were considered by the jury consisting of several accomplished people. I understand your agony with your efforts having failed and empathise with you. His candidacy had been carried forward for some years now and it is understandable that a wife wants her husband to win after all the waiting; but please understand that I cannot command the Jury to simply hand him the Award. I am only the President of AAAI for the time being, and not President of India.
Anyways, next time, please try to get some concrete facts that would support your mudslinging efforts against me. I wish you well.
Best,
S K Swamy”
