CBI to close case against ex-Prasar Bharati Chief tomorrow

CBI, which had alleged in its FIR that the award of the contract had caused a loss of Rs 100 crore to the state exchequer, has now come to the conclusion that the allegation could not be substantiated during its investigation, sources said today.

Last year, the agency had filed a case against Lalli and Managing Director of Delhi-based Zoom Communications Wasim Dehlvi, who is also the resident director of UK-based SIS Live, under section 120-B and 420 of Indian Penal Code related to criminal conspiracy and fraud respectively.

The allegations were refuted by Lalli and Dehlvi.

CBI had alleged a major portion of the Rs 246 crore contract given to UK-based SIS Live by Prasar Bharati for "production and coverage" of Commonwealth Games was sub-contracted to Zoom Communications for only Rs 176 crore, resulting in loss of nearly Rs 100 crore to the exchequer.

After an year-long investigation in the alleged scam, CBI has come to conclusion that there were no major shortcomings in these issues.

The sources said investigations showed the schedule of payments was never changed in favour of SIS Live by Prasar Bharati.

The investigating agency had alleged in its FIR that a number of conditions were relaxed in favour of the UK-based company including a provision pertaining to sub-contracting to Zoom Communications.