KL Report
SRINAGAR
As Doordarshan Kendra (DDK), Srinagar is in news for last many years for alleged irregularities, embezzlements and frauds the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has ordered a probe and has constituted a high level committee to investigate the wrongdoings.
“The DDK Srinagar has been in news for last many years for irregularities, embezzlements and frauds worth crores of rupees which have reportedly been drained by few officials of the Kendra. The union Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadakar has taken a strong note about the issues and has constituted a committee which will probe the whole issue,” one of the senior official of the union Broadcasting ministry told KNS over phone from New Delhi.
He also said that he has decided to clear the ‘mess’ of DDK and has understood that those responsible will not be spared. “Because of the mess the union minister is also planning to remove some tainted officials of the DDK,” he said and added that the Minister has taken a serious note regarding the allegations levelled against the high rank officials of the DDK in the past.
Meanwhile reliable sources said that there is around an estimated embezzlement of Rs 11 Cores in last few years that has been withdrawn against various bank accounts on fictitious names sources disclosed, adding that money has been withdrawn by the DD officers in the names of people, who have never visited Doordarshan and have no knowledge of these illegal transactions.
Pertinent to mention here, some three years ago, CBI had raided the residence of a programme executive and her assistant working in Doordarshan Srinagar, where the investigating agency had seized 50 fictitious bank accounts, PAN Cards besides hundreds of signed blank contract papers.
On June 12, 2009 the CBI had registered the FIR 02/A/2009/CBI/Sgr against former Director Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) Srinagar Dr Rafiq Masoodi and seven private producers on the charges of hatching a criminal conspiracy. These DDK officials had allegedly purchased 1914 tapes containing 9591 segments of the programme for the morning show Subhai Subhai from private producers which were found during the surprise check on May 18, 2009.
CBI had later seized these tapes and presented before the anti-corruption court which gave its nod to proceed ahead with investigations into the multi-crore scam. Out of 9591 segments, sources added that a majority of segments were supplied by various fraud banners and firms floated by the seven private producers. The cost of each segment was fixed at Rs 5000 for which a daily budget of Rs 50,000 and annual budget of Rs 1.80 Crores was allotted.
Sources also exposed that huge money was swindled in DDK Srinagar in the name of current affairs programmes through fake accounts by favourites.
It may also be mentioned here that CEO Prasar Bharti, Jawahar Sircar had admitted during an annual conference of the North Zone officers of the official electronic media at SKICC Srinagar that DDK, Srinagar had become a ‘hub of corruption’.
