SIS rejects allegations of irregularities

In its first reaction to allegations of irregularities in the telecasting contract for Commonwealth Games, SIS Live communications, which was given the sole broadcasting rights for the event, has termed all accusations as "unqualified" and said it has paid all service taxes as per schedule.

In its first reaction to allegations of irregularities in the telecasting contract for Commonwealth Games, SIS Live communications, which was given the sole broadcasting rights for the event, has termed all accusations as "unqualified" and said it has paid all service taxes as per schedule.

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In order to deliver the highest quality broadcast services required for the CWG, SIS Live sub-contracted numerous organisations from around the world, the broadcasting house said in reply to a written questionnaire by PTI.

"This is entirely normal practise for a project of this magnitude and complexity and the use of subcontractors was expressly contemplated in the contract," it said. The company further said that it has paid all service taxes due in accordance with the regulations; the last payment being made in October and the next payment is due in January 2011.

"SIS LIVE has kept proper accounts and copies of bills. These are administered by our central service centre in the UK, and operated online from India. Since the I-T Department visit to our project office in Delhi on October five, we have provided all the documents requested – over 2,500 – within the agreed timescale," it added.

The company refuted that any of its offices were "raided" or any of its bank accounts "frozen". "Currently, much more than 20 per cent of the contract value is outstanding, as was expected at this stage under the contract terms," it said.

The reply sent from the broadcasting company's office in Langley said, SIS LIVE unequivocally refutes the "outrageous" allegations that have recently been aired in the Indian media.

"We are very proud of the coverage which we have produced and have been delighted by the feedback received from broadcasters around the world. "To now see these unqualified accusations in the Indian media is deeply upsetting, particularly for all the staff who worked so hard to cover the event. All are completely groundless and some, frankly, outrageous," the reply said.

"SIS LIVE was part of the team which worked tirelessly during the run up to the Games, under incredibly difficult conditions and circumstances, to ensure all the venues were broadcast-ready in time," David Meynell, SIS LIVE Managing Director said.

"Any suggestion that SIS LIVE has earned excessive profits and or paid any sub-contractors anything less than market rates is entirely erroneous. "Indeed, the enormous challenges presented and overcome by SIS LIVE in delivering world class coverage of the XIX CWG in Delhi 2010 have contributed to ensuring that any profit made from this event is extremely modest," he said.