'This is improper...will take action': Centre issues show-cause notice to BSNL Director Vivek Banzal over Prayagraj 'snan' order

Vivek Banzal is a 1987-batch Indian Telecom Service officer with academic training in electronics and computer science engineering.

A show-cause notice has been issued to a senior director of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) after an internal office order detailing elaborate hospitality arrangements for his proposed visit to Prayagraj went viral, triggering outrage over alleged "VIP culture."

The controversy centres on Vivek Banzal, Director (Consumer Fixed Access) on the BSNL Board, whose February 25-26 visit was accompanied by a list of requested items that reportedly included undergarments, towels and toiletries. Following the backlash, the visit has been cancelled.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Telecom Minister, took serious note of the matter and expressed strong displeasure, calling it a violation of established rules and traditions. He termed the episode "improper" and "shocking," and said accountability would be ensured.

Speaking to ANI, Scindia said a show-cause notice had been served to the director, giving him seven days to respond. He added that appropriate action would follow after reviewing the explanation.

The debate erupted after an internal communication linked to Banzal's visit surfaced online, prompting criticism and the cancellation of a scheduled visit.

Banzal is a 1987-batch Indian Telecom Service officer with academic training in electronics and computer science engineering. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has held several senior positions across government-owned telecom organisations.

Banzal joined BSNL in 2018 as Director (Consumer Fixed Access). In 2022, he was appointed Chairman and Managing Director of ITI Limited before later returning to BSNL in a senior leadership role. Within official circles, he is regarded as an experienced administrator with long-standing expertise in the telecom sector.

The controversy began after a document outlining preparations for Banzal's proposed visit to Prayagraj on February 25-26 was widely circulated on social media. The internal circular detailed extensive arrangements for the director and his family during their planned trip to the Sangam.

Employees were reportedly tasked with coordinating transportation, accommodation, catering and other logistical support. The list of arrangements allegedly extended to personal-use items such as towels, toiletries, grooming products and undergarments. Multiple teams were said to have been formed to manage responsibilities ranging from airport reception to overall hospitality, with dozens of staff members assigned specific duties.

Amid mounting backlash, the visit was subsequently cancelled. A BSNL official later maintained that the circular had been shared inadvertently and was intended solely for internal coordination.

In a statement posted on X, BSNL said it has established guidelines governing official visits and acknowledged that there had been a deviation from those norms in this instance. The company said the episode did not align with its professional standards and values, adding that action had been taken against those responsible. It also reiterated instructions for strict compliance with existing conduct rules and reminded employees to adhere to prescribed protocols going forward.