The wire alleged govt withheld Prasar Bharti funds-refused to pay private firm

New Delhi, March 02: Responding to media reports that the Centre is withholding funds to Prasar Bharti since December last year for the latters alleged defiance to some of the Information and Brodcasting Ministry directives, the government on Friday said that the funds were being withheld as the public broadcaster was not abiding by the rules.

On Friday, news website 'The Wire' reported that over Prasar Bharati's refusal to pay nearly Rs three crore as fees to a private company, I&B Minister Smriti Irani has ordered withholding of funds meant to pay the salaries of Prasar Bharti's employees.

The Prasar Bharti is an autonomous body that functions under the aegis of I&B Ministry.

The Ministry termed the reports as "sinister, motivated campaign" and said that the "misinformation" was based on "half baked facts".