Shunglu committee recommends action against Doordarshan DG Aruna Sharma too

Aruna Sharma, Director General of Doordarshan and 1982 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer, could be in trouble as VK Shunglu committee probing alleged irregularities in the Commonwealth Games, has recommended that criminal cases be registered not just against former Prasar Bharati CEO BS Lalli but against DD Director General too, according to reports.

Whereas Lalli, a retired IAS officer, was under fire for last few months and was suspended as CEO on December 21, Aruna Sharma’s name has been dragged in only now. The Shunglu committee’s recommendation is based on their alleged role in granting CWG broadcasting rights to UK-based SIS Live causing an estimated Rs 135-crore loss to the exchequer. According to reports, Shunglu committee found that granting rights to SIS Live for Rs 246 crore was quite high as the actual cost of coverage could be around Rs 111 crore.

Both Lalli and Ms Sharma had earlier refuted the charges levelled against them.

A doctorate in physiological health management, Aruna Sharma had earlier served as secretary (state cadre) of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department and joint secretary in National Human Rights Commission in addition to handling many key departments in Madhya Pradesh.

It remains to be seen who are other bureaucrats who have been indicted in the Shunglu committee report running into about 1,000 pages with annexures?

Action and Appointments

a) R Gopalan, a 1976 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, presently secretary in the department of financial services has been appointed as secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, under the ministry of finance in place of Ashok Chawla, a 1973 batch Gujarat cadre IAS who retired on January 31.

b) DK Mittal, a 1977 batch UP cadre IAS, presently additional secretary in department of commerce has been appointed as secretary in the ministry of corporate affairs in place of R Bandyopadhyay, a 1974 batch West Bengal cadre IAS who retired on January 31.

c) SR Rao, a 1978 batch Gujarat cadre IAS, presently additional secretary in the department of information technology has been appointed as additional secretary in department of telecommunications.

d) Desh Deepak Verma, a 1978 batch UP cadre IAS and additional secretary in department of food and public distribution has been repatriated to his cadre.

e) Madhav Lal, a 1977 batch IAS officer of J&K cadre has been appointed as chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. Prior to his appointment, he was in the Centre as additional secretary in the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises.