New Delhi:
Under fire for alleged irregularities in the Rs 246 crore Commonwealth Games broadcast deal, Public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati's chief today defended himself. B S Lalli said the amount paid to UK-based firm SIS Live was completely transparent, and the payment schedule had the I&B ministry's approval.
"Certain stories that 80 per cent of the payment has been made to SIS before Games are factually wrong. 60 per cent of the contract value has been paid so far to SIS Live in accordance with the payment schedule approved by the I&B ministry," said Lalli.
The BJP has now demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the role of the I&B Ministry in the CWG broadcast scam.
Earlier, the Managing Director of SIS Live, David Meynell, in an official statement had denied all the charges of wrongdoing.
Questions were raised over whether SIS won its contract through a fair and transparent process. Investigating officials say the company's tax registration formalities have been found to be incomplete and there are discrepancies in banking and other documents. Officials also say they've discovered that SIS subcontracted its deal to Zoom Communications, a company whose offices it shares in Delhi.
SIS dealt with the Prasar Bharti which is an autonomous corporation of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It governs both Doordarshan and All India Radio.
"Certain stories that 80 per cent of the payment has been made to SIS before Games are factually wrong. 60 per cent of the contract value has been paid so far to SIS Live in accordance with the payment schedule approved by the I&B ministry," said Lalli.
The BJP has now demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the role of the I&B Ministry in the CWG broadcast scam.
Earlier, the Managing Director of SIS Live, David Meynell, in an official statement had denied all the charges of wrongdoing.
Questions were raised over whether SIS won its contract through a fair and transparent process. Investigating officials say the company's tax registration formalities have been found to be incomplete and there are discrepancies in banking and other documents. Officials also say they've discovered that SIS subcontracted its deal to Zoom Communications, a company whose offices it shares in Delhi.
SIS dealt with the Prasar Bharti which is an autonomous corporation of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It governs both Doordarshan and All India Radio.
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