The Prasar Bharati Board briefly discussed the Central Vigilance Commission's report against its chief executive officer B.S. Lalli at its meeting on Thursday after it was brought up by a member.
Informed sources said the Board meeting agenda – drafted by the CEO himself – did not include any discussion on the CVC report, which alleges questionable financial dealings by Mr. Lalli as well as other Prasar Bharati officials.
However, Board chairperson Mrinal Pande circulated copies of the CVC report among the members before the meeting was held, and a member raised the issue during the meeting.
“The CEO tried to be offensive and said that the report was all lies, but the chair snubbed him and said that ‘you are not here to make comments on the CVC,” a member, who did not wish to be named, told The Hindu .
The chairperson then informed the members that the report had been forwarded to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for further action.
This was corroborated by the Ministry-nominated member on the Board as well.
While the Law Ministry had given the Ministry permission to ask the Supreme Court to initiate a probe against Mr. Lalli on the basis of the CVC report, the Attorney General has said that the CEO's version of events must be sought first.
The issues relating to broadcast of the Commonwealth Games were not discussed at the meeting, with a prepared presentation by the Doordarshan Director-General being postponed to the next meeting.
