'Many rules had been violated by the owners'

Notwithstanding objections from Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Union Home Ministry on Saturday made it clear that it will not give security clearance to Kalanithi Maran-owned Sun television network, alleging that many rules had been violated by the owners.

The stand is clear and there is no provision under the law for granting security clearance to the Sun TV no matter whatever opinion was being held, senior Home Ministry officials said.

However, taking a cue from the Sun TV experience, the Ministry has made some changes in granting license to private television operators in the country wherein promoters or bidders will have to give a self-declaration certifying that no cases, including criminal, money laundering, links with terror groups and major financial fraud, were pending against them.

The changes, which were effected by Union Home Secretary L.C. Goyal, have listed 14 parameters, which include cases like money laundering, links with terror groups, major financial frauds, links with external intelligence agencies and murder, the sources said.