Prasar Bharati CEO, B S Lalli Suspended

President Pratibha Patil on 21 December 2010 signed the suspension order of Prasar Bharati CEO, B S Lalli. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had in its report tabled on 16 Novemebr 2010 had established five charges against him. One of the sinster charges labelled against him relates to the contracts for management of advertisement revenue garnered from the telecast of cricket matches in Doordarshan in the year 2007. Following the CVC report the Indian government had referred the issue to the President thereby setting in motion the process for Balli’s removal. The President in turn in early December 2010 accepted the prime Minister’s reference and directed that a Supreme Court judge be appointed for the purpose of inquiry.

B S Lalli, a 1971 batch retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service from Uttar Pradesh was appointed CEO of Prasar Bharti in December 2006. The charges of corruption had first surfaced against him in March 2010. He has succeeded K S Sharma as the Prasar Bharati CEO. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry initiated the process of his removal. Under the Prasar Bharti Act, the CEO can be removed only after charges have been established by the Supreme Court through an inquiry.

Prasar Bharati is a statutory autonomous body established which was established under the Prasar Bharati Act and came into existence on 23.11.1997. It is the Public Service Broadcaster of the country. The objectives of public service broadcasting are achieved in terms of Prasar Bharati Act through All India Radio and Doordarshan. The current chairperson of Prasar Bharati is Mrinal pandey.