Rajya Sabha TV appointments under govt scanner

Taking cognisance of an inspection report conducted by the CAG and the Delhi High Court, seeking reply from the Centre, the I&B Ministry is all set to initiate a probe into the functioning of the Rajya Sabha Television (RSTV). 

According to sources in the ministry, a committee will soon be formed to look into irregularities in appointments at RSTV. “Apart from other pertinent issues, the appointment of Gurdeep Singh Sappal, RSTV’s incumbent Chief Executive Officer, is also under the scanner. The ministry is also vetting out allegations made against Sappal in a PIL in the high court,” a source in the ministry said.  Even senior BJP functionaries have also urged Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley to look into the matter. “When officials who had worked with Congress ministers were not allowed to stay in ministries or as private secretaries to ministers, how can a person serving the interests of the Congress be allowed to hold such a coveted post,” a source in the BJP said.