DD-AIR chief faces probe after president’s nod

Paving the way for the removal of Prasar Bharti chief executive officer B S Lalli, President Pratibha Patil today gave her assent for a Supreme Court inquiry into charges of financial mismanagement against him.

The president's assent came on a reference made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as required under the Prasar Bharti Act. She said it is up to the government to decide if Lalli should be suspended while the inquiry is conducted.

Prasar Bharati, an autonomous corporation of the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry, governs the state's TV and radio channels, Doordarshan and All India Radio. According to the Prasar Bharati Act, the chief executive can only be removed after a Supreme Court judge finds the person guilty of wrongoing.

Pending inquiry, the chief executive officer can be placed under suspension. Thus the presidential's reference to the Supreme Court for instituting an inquiry into the charges against him sets in motion his removal process.

A 1971 batch Indian Administrative Services officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Lalli has been having a feud with the Prasar Bharti board on running the organisation.

Lalli, who assumed the chief executive officer's office in December 2006, was indicted by the Central Vigilance Commission, which accused him of breaching Parliamentary privilege, giving undue favours to some broadcast companies, and financial mismanagement.