NEW DELHI: Shashi Shekhar Vempathi, former Principal Architect of Infosys Technologies and now heading an online media company Niti Digital, was today formally welcomed into the Board of the pubcaster Prasar Bharati as a part-time member.

Actress Kajol, whose name has also been shortlisted, could not be inducted as she is said to be overseas.

“We welcome Kajol to Prasar Bharati family. Kajol is appointed as part-time member of Prasar Bharati board,” Prasar Bharati said in a statement earlier.

''Shri @shashidigital appointed as part-time members of the Prasar Bharati board. Welcome the Prasar Bharati family!’” the statement added.

Earlier, around eight names had been prepared and forwarded to the selection committee headed by vice president M Hamid Ansari. The committee also comprises Press Council of India chairman Justice (retd) C K Prasad and I&B secretary Sunil Arora.

Ministry sources said several of the names were among those forwarded last time when four part-time members were chosen in October last year.

In that meeting, the three-member committee had chosen former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's media advisor Ashok Tandon and noted Bhajan singer Anup Jalota, businessmen Sunil Alagh and Shashi Shekhar Vempati as members of the board of the public broadcaster.

Under the Prasar Bharati Act, the pubcaster should have six-part time members on its Board, which is headed by its chairman.