Months after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting cancelled the registration of Digicable Network, it has now emerged that security clearance was denied to the company after intelligence reports that it had links to fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim and his former aide Abu Salem, who is presently behind bars.
Digicable is one of the largest cable networks as well as one of the biggest Multi-System Operators (MSO) in the country. It was in June 2012 that the MSO was given permanent registration to operate for 10 years, but in September 2014, their registration was cancelled by I&B ministry on denial of security clearance. The company moved Bombay High Court against the cancellation, which has put a stay on the I&B ministry’s order. It also moved a petition in Calcutta High Court after the MSO’s operation were stalled in that circle also.
Though the company was given a clearance to operate during UPA government’s time, a background check on these operators revealed the promoters had links with Dawood Ibrahim and Abu Salem and a report was submitted on May 14, 2014, to MHA. Sources said the report mentioned two promoters of Digicable — Jagjeet Singh Kohli and Yogesh Shah for undesirable links with the underworld dons.
“As a matter of routine procedure, the I&B ministry sent us the file for security clearance and it was found that the company had links with people associated with terrorist organisation and the underworld,” said a senior home ministry official. When contacted Digicable’s promoter Jagjeet Singh Kohli said: “We have moved the Bombay HC against the I&B ministry’s order and even got a stay.
We have asked the government to provide us with documents, on what ground was our registration cancelled? We have even complained to the court regarding this. These allegations of underworld links are being engineered by our rivals.”
The MSO caters to subscribers who are spread across 125 locations in 46 cities and 14 states across India.
Source: The Indian Express
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/6439-digicable-denied-clearance-over-%E2%80%98dawood-links%E2%80%99.html
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/6439-digicable-denied-clearance-over-%E2%80%98dawood-links%E2%80%99.html
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