Lalli seeks legal view on contract breach

Dec 03, 2010 - Nitin Mahajan |

New Delhi

The controversial Prasar Bharti CEO B.S. Lalli is understood to have sought the law ministry’s opinion on an alleged breach of contract by SIS Live.
The Prasar Bharati CEO, who is facing allegations of serious financial and administrative irregularities in broadcast of sporting events and engagement of legal entities,

is understood to have met law secretary D.R. Meena earlier this week.
The CEO is understood to have sought the opinion of the ministry after it came to light that SIS Live had allegedly sub contracted the broadcasting of Commonwealth Games for which it was to be paid `246 crores.
Sources stated that the Prasar Bharti CEO met the law secretary at an unscheduled meeting held at the latter’s office on November 30. The CEO is understood to have suggested that legal opinion should also be sought from Solicitor-General Gopal Subramanium.
When contacted by this paper, Prasar Bharati CEO B.S. Lalli refused to comment on the issue. “The matter is sub judice,” was the refrain by Mr Lalli.
The Prasar Bharati CEO had earlier written to director-general Doordarshan Aruna Sharma asking her to course of action in the case. Soon after the Commonwealth Games concluded it was alleged that SIS Live had subcontracted the work to an Indian company — Zoom.
Sources stated that the income-tax department and the Central Vigilance Commission are currently investigating the alleged irregularity committed by the broadcaster.
Ever since the alleged irregularities in the broadcast of Commonwealth Games were revealed the Prasar Bharati CEO has been at loggerheads with the Union information and broadcasting ministry and the Prasar Bharati Board.
The Prasar Bharati CEO has been facing several allegations of serious financial and administrative irregularities in broadcast of sporting events and engagement of legal entities. A 1971-batch IAS officer, Mr Lalli assumed charge in December 2007 and has been in the midst of controversies ever since.

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