Srinagar: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a search at the residential and official premises of two Doordarshan officials of Srinagar on the alleged charge of defrauding the Prasar Bharti of Rs 72 lakhs.

The CBI filed an FIR against news editor of Doordarshan, Srinagar, Bashir Athar Malik and his personal assistant Bashir Ahmad Mir at a designated court in Jammu and later searched their official and residential premises, CBI sources said.

The CBI alleged that Athar along with his personal assistant had entered into a conspiracy and cheated the Prasar Bharti of Rs 72 lakh by claiming payments for "fictitious artists" who the duo claimed had participated in two programmes, the sources said.

The CBI alleged that Athar in connivance with MIR had claimed money for the said programmes in the name of various artists, who had never worked in them.

The agency also claimed that these cheques were drawn in favour of relatives of the duo.

Efforts to contact Malik and Mir did not succeed nor senior officials of Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar, were available for comments.

Sleuths of the CBI conducted searches at the premises of the duo on May 24 and 25 during which some documents pertaining to possession of property were recovered, the CBI sources claimed.

CBI has registered a case against the two under 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 467 and 468 (forgery) of Indian Penal Code and Section 13 (I) (D) of Prevention of Corruption Act.

PTI