Indian journalist had prior info of Balakot strike, reveals Mumbai police probe.

ISLAMABAD -- Police's ongoing investigation into television ratings scam shows Goswami's whatsApp conversation with Pratho Dasgupta

Indian journalist and a supporter of the ruling BJP in India, Arnab Goswami, had prior knowledge of the Modi government's plan to carry out a strike on Pakistani soil days before Indian Air Force bombed Pakistani soil, the Balakot intrusion on February 26, 2019.

The airstrike caused no loss of life in Pakistan as the Indian jets dropped their munitions on a hillside yet the airstrike near the town of Balakot brought the two nuclear armed neighbours on the brink of another war. The revelation of Goswami having prior knowledge about the strike comes from the Mumbai police's ongoing investigation into manipulation of television ratings, reported Indian media outlets.

The Indian journalist was in the know about several planned actions of the Indian government well before their execution, purported WhatsApp messages by him revealed.

Firebrand Indian television anchor Arnab Goswami knew of the Modi government's plan to stage a strike in Pakistan days before the Feb 26, 2019, Balakot episode between the two countries, evidence submitted by the Mumbai police as part of an ongoing investigation on manipulation of television ratings suggests, Indian media outlets reported on Saturday. The police have included purported WhatsApp conversations between Goswami and Pratho Dasgupta, the incarcerated head of ratings company Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), in a transcript that is part of a 3,400-page supplementary charge-sheet filed in their investigation into the alleged ratings scam, according to Indian media.

According to the reports, the police investigation began in October 2020 after TV channels in the western state of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital, were accused of rigging the ratings system.

According to excerpts of the purported conversations published by scroll.in, Goswami texted Dasgupta on Feb 23, 2019, saying, 'On another note something big will happen.' After a few messages on other matters, Dasgupta asked, 'Dawood?', referring to a notorious gangster who is wanted in several cases. The conversation continued:

Arnab Goswami: 'No...