SC seeks evidence against suspended Prasar Bharati CEO Lalli

The Supreme Court today sought from the Centre evidence on alleged irregularities committed by former Prasar Bharati CEO B S Lalli in running the public broadcaster on the basis of which he was suspended last December.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia asked the government to file a statement of facts relating to Lalli's suspension within four weeks and asked the former public broadcaster chief to respond to it within next three weeks. The bench passed the order on a Presidential reference to sack Lalli, a 1971-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. Lalli urged the court to expeditiously hear the reference in view of his retirement in December this year.

President Pratibha Patil had on December 21 last ordered Lalli's suspension. The allegations against him included the controversial decision to give a contract for broadcast of the Commonwealth Games to a UK-based firm SIS Live. he presidential action came after the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) forwarded to Patil a letter by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry recommending that 63-year-old Lalli be suspended.

According to the Prasar Bharati Act, the Chairman or a Member of PB can only be removed by an order of the President on the ground of misbehaviour after the Supreme Court holds an inquiry following a reference to it.