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 alleged wrongdoings.
The union Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadakar has taken a strong note of the reports and has constituted a committee which will probe the whole issue, a senior official of the union Broadcasting Ministry said over phone from New Delhi.
He said that it has been decided to clear the mess in DDK. Because of the mess the union minister is also planning to remove some tainted officials of the DDK, he revealed.
Meanwhile reliable sources said that cores of Rs have been embezzled and an amount of Rs 11 Crore has been withdrawn from various bank accounts on fictitious names in last few years alone, sources disclosed. They alleged that the money has been withdrawn by the DD officers on the name of people, who have never visited Doordarshan and have no knowledge of these illegal transactions.
Earlier 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 programmes for the morning show Subhai Subhai from private producers.
CBI had later seized these tapes and presented them before anti-corruption court which gave its nod for investigations into the multi-crore scam.
Out of 9591 segments, sources added that a majority of segments were supplied by various non existent 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 said that huge money was swindled in DDK Srinagar in the name of current affairs programmes through fake accounts by favorites.
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. (KNS)
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