Payment of Rs 98.4 cr withheld to SIS Live by Prasar Bharati

Bank guarantee amounting to Rs 24.6 crores was also encashed by Prasar Bharati and a sum of Rs 7,08,04,879 had been withheld on another count.

These details were given by I&B minister Ambika Soni in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

In her reply, Soni said that the High Level Committee (HLC) constituted under the chairmanship of V K Shunglu in its report concluded "action/inaction are strongly suggestive of collusion between CEO, Prasar Bharati and DG Doordarshan and the service provider(s) SIS Live/Zoom Communications."

She said that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had asked the I&B ministry to review the matter to ensure that there is no overpayment.

"In this regard Prasar Bharati has withheld a sum of Rs 98.4 crores (i.E. 40 per cent of the contract value of the contract awarded to SIS Live for Rs 246 crores) on account of various disputes," she said.

"Due to breach of contractual provision by SIS Live with respect to the contract for production and coverage of the CWG 2010, bank guarantee amounting to Rs 24.6 crores was also encashed by Prasar Bharati," she said in her reply.

Soni said that a sum of Rs 7,08,04, 879 had been withheld on another count. The I&B minister also said that SIS Live had invoked arbitration and the proceedings were on.

With regard to references against the then Director General, Doordarshan Aruna Sharma in the HLC report, Soni said the ministry had requested the CVO Prasar Bharati to investigate into 17 issues and the role played by Sharma to pinpoint irregularities and lapses if any. (More)