Sun TV security clearance: MHA firm on decision

New Delhi, June 8: The Ministry of Home Affairs which refused to issue a security clearance to the Sun TV network's 33 channels may also request the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to cancel their licenses. A detailed report has been submitted by the Home Ministry on why it refused to give the clearance.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is however likely to seek a review of the decision made by the Home Ministry. Last year the Home Ministry had denied clearance to 40 radio channels of the group citing similar reasons.

MHA may seek cancellation of licenses

While the I&B ministry is likely to seek a re-look of the Home Ministry's decision, the latter feels that it is not right to grant a clearance in the wake of such important cases pending. Home Ministry officials tell OneIndia that they have gone through the case in detail and only then come to the conclusion.

We have for now sent in the reasons for why the security clearance was not granted. We will also send a request for cancellation of the licenses during the pendency of the probe, the official also informed.

The official also said that the report has been sent after detailed consideration. It is now up to the I&B ministry to take action depending on the report that we sent, the officer further stated.

The pending cases

The decision was taken by the Home Ministry after looking into the three very important pending cases. These cases are pending and hence to give a clearance at this point in time is not correct, the Home Ministry observed.

The Enforcement Directorate's case of money laundering and also the one concerning the allegation of the Sun TV office running BSNL lines has far reaching ramifications. The Aircel-Maxis deal was also taken into consideration by the Home Ministry.

The investigating agencies- CBI and ED say that they are closing in on the case and hence no attempt should be made to disturb the probe.

I&B ministry to seek a re-look into decision

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry may ask the Home Ministry to re-look into the decision. Last time when the Home Ministry had refused a clearance to the FM channels being run by the Sun group, the I&B ministry had written back seeking a re-look into the decision.

The Home Ministry has however not responded to that request as yet. Home Ministry officials say that the decisions have been taken after deliberations and consultations and hence it is difficult to re-look into them.

We do not want to hurt the ongoing probe into the cases against the group, the Home Ministry official also added.

The Sun TV group may move the court against the decision as it had done the last time too. The court in Chennai had stayed the proceedings the last time Sun TV had approached it against the decision of the Home Ministry.

OneIndia News