PIL against Prasar Bharati admitted

The Karnataka high court on Tuesday admitted a public interest writ petition, seeking a direction to Prasar Bharati not to permit any person to exploit Internet rights pertaining to cricket matches played in India and hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, without inviting tenders or holding a public auction.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice P V Reddi and Justice N K Patil, admitted the petition filed by Sripathi Rao, of Bangalore, who submitted that he had filed it to "prevent leakage of revenue of Prasar Bharati of nearly Rs 6.5 billion".

The petitioner, a Karnataka Janata Dal-United spokesman, submitted that Prasar Bharati "is a statutory corporation, and cricket, as a game, is watched by almost every Indian".

According to the petitioner, the BCCI entered into an agreement with Prasar Bharati on September 25, 1999, by which it acquired rights to telecast cricket events for five years, commencing from October 1, 1999.

The petitioner further submitted that Budha Films Pvt Ltd offered a highest bid of Rs 4.5 billion to Prasar Bharati, which in turn offered it to TWI for US $ 43.75 million.

According to the petitioner, Doordarshan has retained Internet rights. Budha Films says it had given offers of several billion for the Internet rights.

The petitioner stated that instead of accepting the Buddha Films offer, the respondent authority had entered into an agreement with TWI/Stratcom India Limited to sell rights worth Rs 6.50 billion and thereby caused a loss of nearly Rs 6.50 billion to Prasar Bharati.

The court had earlier ordered issue of notice to the respondents. The petitioner also prayed for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.

When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, the judges, after hearing the counsel admitted the petition and adjourned the hearing.

Mail Cricket Editor