Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to take a final call on the fate of controversial Prasar Bharati CEO B.S. Lalli. The Union ministry of information and broadcasting is all set to approach the PM for initiating a probe against the Prasar Bharati CEO who stands accused of financial irregularities in the ongoing broadcast scam.
Sources said that despite a spate of controversies, Mr Lalli had continued to move ahead in his career because of his links with the “high and mighty” in the UPA government and the Congress. However, the PM’s nod could be the first step towards moving against the high-profile Prasar Bharati CEO who has come under the scanner in the `246 crore Commonwealth Games broadcast deal with the UK-based SIS Live.
That the noose could be tightening around the CEO became somewhat evident with the I&B ministry receiving the go-ahead for a probe against Mr Lalli from the Union ministry of law and justice.
The I&B ministry move comes days after a report by the Prasar Bharati board recommending inquiry proceedings against its CEO on a CVC report that had indicted Mr Lalli for financial irregularities that caused a loss to the national exchequer.
Sources stated that the alleged irregularities also came in for discussion during the last Prasar Bharati board meeting held last week. Over the past several months the board and the CEO have been involved in a constant tussle for the control over the national broadcaster.
However, the removal of the CEO is not expected to be easy. The procedure for removal of the CEO under the Prasar Bharati Act says that “the CEO can only be removed by the President on the advice of the Supreme Court after a through inquiry by the apex court which has to prima facie establish that the CEO was involved in wrongdoing”. As per procedure the Prime Minister will take a call on ordering the inquiry, to be headed by a Supreme Court judge.
The Prasar Bharati CEO has been facing allegations of serious financial and administrative irregularities in broadcast of sporting events and engagement of legal entities.
A 1971-batch IAS officer, Mr Lalli assumed charge in December 2007 and has been in the midst of controversies ever since.