MHA, I&B MINISTRY SETTLE DIFFERENCES IN SUN TV CASE.
Home Ministry and Information & Broadcasting Ministry maybe burying their differences over granting security clearance for the renewal of licences of radios and TV channels of SUN TV Group. The major promoters of SUN TV groups, Maran brothers, have been charge sheeted by CBI and ED on series of cases. Maran brothers have been charge sheeted by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for corruption, cheating, misuse of public office, money laundering in Aircel-Maxis scam, and setting up illegal telephone exchanges.
A series of letter exchanges between the two Ministries and file noting show that many officers in I&B Ministry felt there should be a distinction between “economic crime” and other crime related to national security. The controversy started two years ago when the MHA denied security clearance to SUN TV group’s companies to participate in FM Radio auction. The MHA’s action came after main promoters Maran brothers were charge sheeted by CBI and ED in Aircel Maxis case for corruption and money laundering. Now CBI has charge sheeted Maran brothers in illegal telephone exchange case also.
In the past, when Home Ministry denied security clearances, channels had to face consequences from the I&B Ministry action. The I&B Ministry's replies to Parliament on several occasions show that actions were taken against TV channels like Mahuaa, Positive TV, Saiprakash Telecommunication Ltd, Maa TV, STV, Indira Television, Lemon Entertainment based on MHA's adverse stand on security clearance.
But the I&B Ministry preferred to take up the MHA's adverse report on security clearance on SUN TV group to several legal offices and at one point Attorney General's even opined that MHA's action violated fundamental right granted by Constitution under Art 19. Citing the AG's opinion, SUN TV Group got a favourable verdict from Madras High Court also. The Additional Solicitor General based in Chennai wrote series of letters to the MHA and I&B challenging the high court verdict, citing that security clearance related norms can't be diluted.
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