The Income Tax Department today searched the premises of companies associated with the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the wake of allegations that telecasting agency Multi Screen Media had paid a facilitation fee of USD 80 million to marketing agency World Sports Group.

The searches, which started this morning, were on in the office premises of Multi-Screen Media (MSM) in suburban Malad, the telecasting agency of IPL, World Sports Group (WSG), the marketing agency of IPL, International Management Group (IMG), the organising agency, and the Bandra house of Venu Nair, CEO of WSG.