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Dalmiya accuses BCCI of foul play over TV rights
ontroversy. On Tuesday he raised questions on the board’s decision to award to Nimbus the telecast rights to India cricket, accusing it of losing Rs 814 million on the deal.
Though Nimbus put in a composite winning bid of $612.18 million, Dalmiya said the individual bids for the various rights were worth $630 million. In order to prove his point, he quoted tender documents and other communications from the board to the bidders.
“This means the board did not receive $ 18.09 million and this converted to Indian currency works out to Rs 814 million,” Dalmiya was quoted as saying in a PTI report.
“This obviously leads to some serious questions. Was any undue advantage given to Nimbus? Whether any vested interest was at work? Whether concession was given to somebody by somebody?” Dalmiya asked.
Nimbus Communications (India) was the highest bidder with $504.09 for the India rights, while for the international rights the highest offer of $126.18 million was given by Nimbus Sports Pte (Singapore).
“But we find that the entire rights were given to Nimbus Communications (India) even though their offer for international rights ($108.09 million) was significantly lower than that of Nimbus Singapore Pte,” Dalmiya told PTI.
According to the criteria laid down by the Board at the time of floating the tenders, the international rights should have gone to Nimbus (Singapore), Dalmiya pointed out.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), of which Dalmiya was the president, had written to the BCCI on 1 March raising the questions. But a reply was yet to be received, Dalmiya said.
“I hear people (the powers that be in BCCI) shouting from the rooftops about transparency. This is an example of that,” he said sarcastically.
The PTI report quoted the letter by CAB joint secretary Amitabha Banerjee: “We understand that board vice president (Lalit) Modi himself issued clarifications during the tender process that made it clear that maximisation of revenue was the main objective and for this purpose, the bidders were asked to make optimum combinations possible.”
The letter also raised questions on whether the board had signed an agreement with the winning bidder and whether Nimbus had deposited the requisite amount of Rs two billion with the board throughout the duration of the agreement.
Banerjee’s letter, referred to by Dalmiya on Tuesday, also asked if concessions were allowed to Nimbus and whether it furnished rolling bank guarantees.
Reacting to Dalmiya’s allegations, BCCI marketing committee member I S Bindra rubbished the charges, saying the former president was trying to “divert the attention” from the showcause notice issued on him.
“We welcome Dalmiya to have a public discussion about the tenders for the telecast rights, which have been awarded in a fully transparent manner,” Bindra, himself a former BCCI president, was quoted as saying in a separate PTI report.
“He (Dalmiya) only wants to divert the attention from the chargesheet. We are answerable and are prepared to have a public discussion with him on any (news) channel,” he said.
Last month, the BCCI had issued a showcause notice to Dalmiya, accusing him of siphoning off money from the PILCOM (Pakistan-India-Sri Lanka Committee).
BCCI joint secretary M P Pandove defended the transparency of the tenders and the bidding process. “The tenders were opened in Mumbai in January and all comparative bids were shown on a screen. The whole system was transparent and nobody raised any objection then. I don’t know from where Dalmiya has arrived at this figure (18 million loss),” Pandove was quoted as saying in the PTI report.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
