Govt cancels licence of Maran's Kal Cables

Move comes after MHA refused to give security clearance

The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has cancelled licence of Kal Cables, a part of the Sun Network owned by Kalanidhi Maran, grandnephew of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi.  

This comes after the Union Home Ministry denied security clearance to the Kal Cables, which was operated under the company Sumangali Cable Vision. The company has already moved The Madras High Court, challenging the government order. 

“In view of denial of security clearance by the ministry of home affairs, regular registration cannot be granted to Kal Cables Private Limited in terms of provisions contained in Rule 11C and accordingly the permanent registration granted to Kal Cables stands cancelled with immediate effect,” the Ministry said in its order.

It has given 15 days to the Kal Cables to wind up its operations and run a scroll to inform local cable operators and viewers.

The Kal Cable, one of the major multi-system operators in Chennai, was given licence to run conditional access system operations in the city in 2006. It later obtained a permanent registration in 2012 and digital addressable system  licence for Chennai in 2013.

The ministry has cancelled licences of 16 other MSOs including God Father Communication, Punjab, Bitto Cable Network, Nagpur, Arshad Cable Network, Jammu and Kashmir, N Star Media Network, Srinagar Intermedia Cable Communication, Pune,  Supersonic Networks and Tanuku Communication Network, Andhra Pradesh, and Skynet Digital Services, Allahabad. 

The licences of all these MSOs were revoked after Home Ministry denied security clearance to them.