Govt mulling stern action against Lalli

New Delhi: Taking serious note of the findings of the Shunglu Committee on irregularities in the award of broadcast contract in the Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar to recommend follow up action.

The Shunglu Committee is reported to have indicted suspended Prasar Bharati CEO B S Lalli for causing a loss of Rs 135 crore to the state exchequer.

A statement from the PMO today said ''Stern action is likely to be taken on the basis of Cabinet Secretary’s recommendations.''

It said the report has been sent to Cabinet secretary for urgent examination, and he has been asked to submit his report within a week with his considered recommendation on follow up steps.

''The Chief Executive Officer of the Prasar Bharati B S Lalli has already been suspended by the Government,'' it said.

The committee has reportedly found that Mr Lalli awarded the broadcast contract to a UK firm SIS Live for Rs 246 crore, but the company got the work done by another company for Rs 111 crore.