PM refers Shunglu report on Lalli to CBI

In a quick follow up action, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today referred to CBI the Shunglu Committee report that had indicted suspended Prasar Bharti chief B S Lalli and Doordarshan director general Aruna Sharma in the award of broadcasting rights of Commonwealth Games causing Rs 135 crore loss to the exchequer.

In a quick follow up action, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday referred to CBI the Shunglu Committee report that had indicted suspended Prasar Bharti chief B S Lalli and Doordarshan director general Aruna Sharma in the award of broadcasting rights of Commonwealth Games causing Rs 135 crore loss to the exchequer.

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Sharma, also indicted by Shunglu committee, has been reverted to her home cadre of IAS in Madhya Pradesh.

The Prime Minister, who is away in Guwahati, issued directions from there to seek explanations from Lalli and Sharma on the allegations and recommend appropriate action within two weeks.

A fortnight after the first report of the high level committee headed by former CAG V K Shunglu pointed to the loss of Rs 135 crore in the award of the contract, a PMO release said the Prime Minister decided to refer the report to the CBI.

He took the decision after considering the report on the Host Broadcasting Issues related to the Commonwealth Games and the report given by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar.

In its report, the committee fixed the responsibility for providing "undue benefit" to Sis Live and Zoom Communications primarily on Lalli and Sharma and said they cannot be recused from the acts of omission and commission which facilitated this wrong doing.

The committee had also said certain actions seem to attract penal provisions under IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act which needs to be separately investigated.