‘Alleged misappropriation of funds at DD Kashir’

Srinagar, Jul 26: The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry may hold a fresh probe into the alleged “misappropriation” of funds at the Doordarshan Srinagar over the years.
Sources revealed that Union Information and Broadcasting Minister have taken the cognizance of complaints about the misappropriation of funds at the Doordarshan Srinagar.
Sources told KNS that the issue also camp up at a meeting chaired by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister. “The minister told us that he has received scores of complaints and may direct for fresh probe,” sources privy to the meeting said.
They said the Union Minister had also received complaints that fake bills were made by its top officials resulting into siphoning of crores of rupees that were meant for the improvement of its programme quality.
Sources said the team will also probe into the recruitments made at the Doordarshan Srinagar over the years.
They said there are also complaints that its top officials had made back-door appointments and allotment of programmes to their relatives.
A senior official of Directorate of Doordarshan New Delhi also confirmed to Kashmir News Service (KNS) that Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has received complaints that records pertaining to various programmes were missing.
“Despite the central government has substantially increased its budget, the quality of its programmes has degraded over the years,” he said.
This is not the first time that Doordarshan Srinagar has come under scanner. In the past, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) indicted its some top officials who was found involved in multi-crore scam. The CBI had raided Doordarshan Srinagar several times in the past compelling the authorities to remove some tainted officials from there. “But no substantiate action was taken against the erring officials due to their strong political backing,” official sources said.
It has been learnt that attempts were also made to place a curtain on major portion of misdoings of earlier years.
They said most of the directors during the past 10 to 15 years were found involved in corrupt practises and causing loss to the government exchequer. “The Srinagar Doordarshan has a history that most of its top officials have been placed under suspension in the past but no concrete action was taken,” officials said.