Stern action on Shunglu Committee’s first report: PMO

NEW DELHI - The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Tuesday said it has taken a “serious view” on the first report of the Shunglu Committee which has found irregularities in the award of broadcasting rights for the Commonwealth Games and will take “stern action” on it.

“The prime minister has taken a serious view of the findings of the first report of the Shunglu Committee on host broadcasting” by the UK-based SIS Live, a statement issued by the PMO said.

“The report (first report of the Shunglu Committee) has been sent to Cabinet Secretary (K.M. Chandrasekhar). Stern action is likely to be taken on the basis of the cabinet secretary’s recommendations,” the statement added.

The statement said Chandrasekhar 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,” the statement said.

According to sources, the initial report of the Shunglu Committee has indicted Lalli and another official of public broadcaster Prasar Bharati for allegedly causing Rs.135 crore loss to the exchequer in awarding to the British firm the broadcasting rights for the Commonwealth Games held in October.

Shunglu, a former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, was appointed to head a committee to probe allegations of corruption in the conduct of the CWG. Shantanu Consul, a former union government secretary, is the second member of the panel.

More reports on the other contracts and conduct of the Games is to be submitted by the Shunglu Committee by March 31.

The CWG in Delhi had become a subject of controversies after allegations of corruption in the construction of the infrastructure and conduct of the Games were reported by the media on the basis of the preliminary reports of the CAG.