CBI files case against BS Lalli

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday registered a case against suspended public broadcaster Prasar Bharati?s CEO (Chief Executive Officer) BS Lalli for alleged financial irregularities.

The investigating body reportedly charged Lalli under Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI also carried out extensive searched at Lall?s residence.

The Supreme Court on Feb 21 asked the Central government to submit before it evidence against Lalli.

An apex court bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia and justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar gave the government four weeks to file its statement of facts, while Lalli will get three weeks time thereafter to respond to the government’s statement.

The Centre had sought the Supreme Court?s enquiry and opinion on Lalli?s removal, who was suspended in December last year.

Lalli?s counsel, KK Venugopal, urged the court to deal with the case expeditiously as his client will retire this December and wanted his name to be cleared before that.

A 1971-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, Lalli was suspended on the basis of the Shunglu committee report had noted that Prasar Bharati had sanctioned highly inflated bills for the host broadcasting of the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi in October 2010.

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.