CBI says it had enough evidence to raid

Onkar Singh in Delhi

Twenty-five teams of the Central Bureau of Investigation conducted raids in New Delhi, Bombay, Lucknow, Bangalore and Calcutta, seizing incriminating documents on Monday morning.

The searches were conducted after it registered five cases of corruption and criminal conspiracy against six Doordarshan officials and three private television companies and their owners.

The office and residence of former ICC chief Jagmohan Dalmiya were raided in Calcutta, in connection with the 1998 ICC knockout tournament television rights.

"The raids began in the morning. After a preliminary enquiry, the CBI found enough evidence. The agency registered five cases under Section 120 of the CrP C and Section 13.1(d) under the Prevention of Corruption Act, for misuse of official powers," CBI spokesman S M Khan told rediff.com.

He said that those raided had conspired with Doordarshan officials in connection with the telecast rights for the French Open (1997), Wimbledon (1997), ICC knockout tournament in Dhaka (1998), World Cup 1999 and Independence Cup 1997.

Khan said no arrests had been made.

The premises of WorldTel chief Mark Mascarenhas, Stratcon's Siddarth Ray, former director general of Doordarshan K Sarama, former deputy director general Rakesh Bhahadur (both IAS officers), DDG sports K Kunnikrishnan, P K Seth, former DDG, finance, Anurag Misra, controller, sales, and Sanjiv Dutta, director finance were also raided.

Arun Aggarwal, who had raised this issue with the CBI, told rediff.com that he stood vindicated. "These very people who were trying to vilify me will have to answer the people of this country. This conspiracy clearly indicates why Doordarshan is going into losses," said Aggarwal.

Former BCCI president I S Bindra said that it was not a matter to feel happy about because it was ultimately cricket that was suffering. "I have said what I had to say to the CBI and it is for them to carry on from where I left," Bindra said.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sushma Swaraj was not available for comment as she is touring Rajasthan.

Mail Cricket Editor