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DELHI: The Government has clarified that Prasar Bharati CEO B S Lalli had not
been suspended or removed despite the inquiry ordered against him.
However,
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting C M Jatua told Parliament today
that the process under Section Seven of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation
of India) 1990 had been initiated against him.
The
Minister said the Central Vigilance Commission had in its report on 16 July established
Lalli to be responsible in respect of four of the seven allegations on which the
enquiry was conducted. The charges were related to contracts for management of
advertisement revenue arising from the telecast of cricket matches on Doordarshan
during 2007; the non-telecast by Doordarshan of T-20 cricket World Cup matches
held in South Africa in September 2007; engagement of legal entities to represent
Prasar Bharati; purchase of radio broadcasting rights for 13 cricket series held
during 2007-09; and hiring of transport and accommodation for the conduct of the
Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in 2008.
The Minister said Lalli had
sought comments from the officers and letters to this effect had been issued.
Earlier
this weekend, Minister Ambika Soni had said Secretary Raghu Menon and other senior
officials of the Ministry were examining the action that is possible against Lalli
following the Presidential mandate for inquiries by a Supreme Court judge into
financial regularities and action would be taken in two or three days. Soni
also said the officials would examine whether Lalli could be suspended pending
the inquiry. The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act 1990 was
being studied in this regard. | 
