CBI not dropping telecast
rights case
Onkar Singh
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday clarified that it will not withdraw the case against officials of the International Cricket Council and some private television sports production houses for selling off telecast rights to Doordarshan in the ICC knock-out tournament, held in Dhaka in October 1998.
"We have not dropped this particular case in which some top officials of the ICC and a private television sport company are involved. Though Jagmohan Dalmiya has not been listed as one of the key accused but the needle of suspicion points towards him," S M Khan, spokesman for CBI told rediff.com.
The total money involved in the deal was around Rs 400 million. As part of its investigations, former ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya's house in Kolkata was searched by a special CBI team. Others whose residences and offices were searched included that of late Mark Mascarenhas of WorldTel. The business tycoon died in a car accident last month.
Has the case suffered because of the death of Mascarenhas?
"Since he is no more, therefore, his name would not be sent for trail. But his company also figures in the list of the accused," Khan said.
Khan also confirmed that the CBI will be moving the court to drop cases against four Doordarshan officials.
"A decision has been taken in this regard. This decision was taken almost a month back," he added.
But the CBI is yet to approach the court formally to drop the cases against top Doordarshan officials, which include the K S Sarma, chief executive of Prasar Bharti, he added.
"We have deicded to withdraw cases against the Doordarshan officials because we have found no evidence against them. But the fifth case is very much there," he said.
