Fraud probe into Rangers was based on Panorama documentary, court hears

Philip Duffy, 54, a special adviser at Duff & Phelps, whose services were employed when the Ibrox club fell into administration, said he had been giving a witness statement when the comment was made by Detective Chief Inspector Jim Robertson, The Times reports.

Mr Duffy was giving evidence on the third day of the £7 million compensation claims against police and prosecutors brought by David Grier, a business consultant who was arrested in 2014 but was later acquitted of all charges.

Mr Grier sued the BBC over its documentary The Men Who Sold the Jerseys, which it said revealed “the scandal which brought Rangers FC to its knees”.

Mr Duffy’s witness statement said: “At the end, I remember [Robertson] remarked the whole basis for him arresting … the Duff & Phelps people was based upon the Panorama programme.

“I thought this was strange behaviour. I thought it was strange that a criminal arrest should proceed on the basis of a television programme, especially Panorama which has some history in reporting matters incorrectly or sensationally.”

Mr Grier was among a number of men arrested during the investigation into Rangers and its sale to Craig Whyte. Lord Tyre concluded in February that prosecutors had no “probable cause” to prosecute Mr Grier.