The acting CEO of Prasar Bharti, RR Shah, has been shifted out of the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry , the Economic Times reported on Tuesday. He held the rank of additional special secretary.

In a related move, Pawan Chopra, additional secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, is to take over as secretary I&B in place of YN Chaturvedi, who retires on Wednesday, 31 January.

Shah's shifting is bound to revive speculation as to whether his days at the helm of Prasar Bharti are numbered. Shah's term came to an end on 31 December but he was granted a six-month extension pending a replacement being found.

Two names that have cropped up as possible successors are Kiran Karnik, MD Discovery India, and Deepak Shourie, formerly with Zee Telefilms.