Sehgal is a retired 1988 batch IAS of UP cadre, who worked closely with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and previously Akhilesh Yadav as well as Mayawati. He superannuated last year as Additional Chief Secretary. 

Considered a tough taskmaster, Sehgal is known as the brain behind the Lucknow Agra Expressway built during Akhilesh Yadav’s government before 2017. He also played a crucial role in other infrastructure projects in the state. 

During and after the second Covid-19 wave in 2021, Sehgal was in charge of the media and publicity wing of the UP government. He is said to have used his media prowess to launch a massive media campaign to project the state as a mega investment destination. 

“He has a rapport with most of the media houses in the country because a majority of channels and newspapers are based in Noida in Uttar Pradesh. It seems his media connections helped him get this job,” a retired bureaucrat from Lucknow told The Secretariat. 

The post of chairperson of Prasar Bharati had been lying vacant since A Surya Prakash completed his tenure in February 2020.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, headed the selection panel for the post of Prasar Bharati Chairman. The chairperson of the Press Council of India and a nominee of the President are other members of the selection panel. 

The post of the Prasar Bharati Chairman has a three-year tenure or until the person attains the age of 70 years.