Films Division not empowered to sell historical speeches

NEW DELHI: Films Division had sold the telecom rights of historical speeches of the freedom fighters to a media house for Rs 2.47 lakh but the cheque was not encashed as it was not empowered to do the sale.

Replying to a written question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of Information and Broadcasting P R  Dasmunsi said a proposal was received from Rajshri Media (Pvt) Limited of Mumbai for the telecom rights of Films Division.

Films Division entered into an agreement with that company for telecom rights etc. M/S Rajshri Media sent a banker's cheque of Rs 2, 47,334, Dasmunsi said in reply to a question by three MPs asking whether the Government had sold the historical speeches of the freedom fighters to mobile phone operators.

However, as Films Division was not empowered to enter into such an agreement and the sale of telecom rights was not delegated to them, it did not encash the cheque received from the company, he said.