Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has supported grant of security clearance to 33 channels of Kalanithi Maran-promoted Sun TV Network, saying the corruption cases being investigated against the network’s promoter cannot be grounds to deny it.The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had recently approached the law Ministry to seek the opinion of the top law officer on the issue after the Home Ministry denied security clearance to the network.
In his opinion, the Attorney General said that security clearance can be granted as agencies are probing cases related to corruption and not security.Hence, he said, corruption cases cannot be the grounds to deny security clearance.In cases where two ministries differ, the opinion of the AG is usually accepted though it is not binding. Sources did not rule out the matter being referred to an inter-ministerial group for a final call.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry issues broadcasting licences for which companies require a security nod from MHA.The ministry had earlier been informed about the decision of the Home Ministry denying security clearance to the TV network, which is believed to have been influenced by pending corruption cases against Mr. Maran and his brother, former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran.
The television channels could, however, seek a legal recourse. The Sun TV Network is one of India’s largest media groups whose TV channels reach more than 95 million households in the country.The network had applied to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for renewing its broadcasting licence for 10 years for which it needed the MHA nod.Shares of Sun TV Network soared almost 8 per cent after Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi supported grant of security clearance to 33 channels of the Kalanithi Maran-promoted firm.
Following this, the stock jumped 7.86 per cent to settle at Rs333.55 on BSE. In intra-day, it surged 10.68 per cent to Rs342.30.On NSE, it climbed 7.88 per cent to Rs333.90. The company’s market value rose Rs957.69 crore to Rs13,144.69 crore.The AG has supported grant of security clearance, saying the corruption cases being investigated against the network’s promoter cannot be the ground to deny permission.