President Pratibha Patil ordered the suspension of Prasar Bharti's controversial CEO B S Lalli, who is in the eye of a storm facing allegations of irregularities in the country's largest public broadcaster.
Coming out in defence of its deal with UK-based SIS Live for telecast of the Commonwealth Games, Prasar Bharti on Monday said the selection of the company was made with the approval of Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni.
Prasar Bharati CEO B S Lalli will face a Supreme Court inquiry into charges of administrative and financial irregularities against him following a Presidential reference.
The CBI registered a case of fraud and criminal conspiracy against suspended Prasar Bharti CEO B S Lalli and Chairman and Managing Director of Delhi-based Zoom Communications Wasim Dehlvi for alleged irregularities in broadcasting rights contract of Commonwealth Games which resulted in a loss of Rs 100 crore to exchequer.
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday carried out searches at the residence of suspended Prasar Bharti CEO B S Lalli after registering a case against him and others for alleged irregularities in the award of broadcasting rights of Commonwealth Games reportedly resulting in a loss of Rs 135 crore to the exchequer.
A high level committee, which went into alleged financial irregularities in Commonwealth Games, has strongly indicted suspended Prasar Bharti CEO B S Lalli and Doordarshan Director General Aruna Sharma, accusing them of "collusion" with a UK-based firm which benefited Rs 135 crore in the broadcast deal.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has sought sanction of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to prosecute former Prasar Bharti CEO B S Lalli and Doordarshan Director General Aruna Sharma in connection with allegations of corruption in award of broadcasting rights of Commonwealth Games.
The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday registered a money laundering case against suspended Prasar Bharti Chief Executive Officer B S Lalli in connection with the awarding of the Rs 246-crore broadcast rights contract for the Commonwealth Games.
The Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to lodge an FIR against suspended Prasar Bharti CEO B S Lalli on Friday, in connection with alleged irregularities in the award of broadcasting rights of Commonwealth Games reportedly resulting in a loss of Rs 135 crore to the exchequer.
In a quick follow up action, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday referred to Central Bureau of Investigation the Shunglu committee report that had indicted suspended Prasar Bharti chief B S Lalli and Doordarshan Director General Aruna Sharma in the award of broadcasting rights of Commonwealth Games causing Rs 135 crore loss to the exchequer.
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