Prasar Bharti's deal with BCCI caused loss of Rs.3.39 crore: PAC

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati struck an erroneous agreement six years ago with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which led to a loss of revenue of Rs.3.39 crore, said the public accounts committee in a report presented to parliament today.

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati struck an erroneous agreement six years ago with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which led to a loss of revenue of Rs.3.39 crore, said the public accounts committee in a report presented to parliament on Monday.

The 25-member committee is headed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

The report “highlights a loss of revenue of Rs.3.39 crore due to an erroneous agreement signed between Prasar Bharti and BCCI on 30.11.2005".

"In their considered view, such an erroneous agreement which caused a pecuniary loss of Rs.3.39 crore to the government can't be held mere dereliction of duty or unhappy drafting,” said the report.

The committee has demanded an "explanation for such patently erroneous drafting, recovery of the intentional loss caused to the public exchequer and stringent penal action against the officers involved with the finalisation of the agreement within six months".

The committee also recommended that the process to recover the excess money paid to the BCCI for matches which were played for less than seven hours' duration should be commenced.