SC seeks evidence against suspended Prasar Bharati CEO Lalli

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The Supreme Court today soughtfrom the Centre evidence on alleged irregularities committedby former Prasar Bharati CEO B S Lalli in running the publicbroadcaster on the basis of which he was suspended lastDecember.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia asked thegovernment to file a statement of facts relating to Lalli''ssuspension within four weeks and asked the former publicbroadcaster chief to respond to it within next three weeks.

The bench passed the order on a Presidential referenceto sack Lalli, a 1971-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradeshcadre. Lalli urged the court to expeditiously hear thereference in view of his retirement in December this year.

President Pratibha Patil had on December 21 lastordered Lalli''s suspension.

The allegations against him included the controversialdecision to give a contract for broadcast of the CommonwealthGames to a UK-based firm SIS Live.

The presidential action came after the PrimeMinister''s Office (PMO) forwarded to Patil a letter by theInformation and Broadcasting Ministry recommending that63-year-old Lalli be suspended.

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