State broadcaster 'Doordarshan' is owed over Rs 900 crore by various private companies and government departments and the Prasar Bharati is now taking legal recourse to recover these dues, government said today.

"Prasar Bharati has informed that Doordarshan owes crores of rupees from several companies," Minister of State in the Information and Broadcasting ministry C M Jatua said in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. As per the details that Jatua shared with the house, old or dead agencies owed Doordarshan Rs 48.11 crore as outstanding dues. As per the list shared with Parliament, a total of 154 such companies owed Doordarshan Rs 17.56 crore as Principal amount while Rs 30.54 crore was the interest that had accrued on this amount.

A much more sizeable Rs 775 crore were outstanding dues against 84 defaulting agencies whose case was under arbitration.

Outstanding dues against advertising agencies in Doordarshan records was Rs 70.9 crore.

Goverment agencies also owed Doordarshan Rs 40.28 crore as dues.

Jatua said that Prasar Bharati and Doordarshan had been issuing reminders to defaulting agencies, whose bank guarantees and accreditation status has been frozen.

Legal notices have been issued in many cases and continue to be issued he said

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