New Delhi: Market regulator Sebi has categorised recovery of Rs 76,293 crore of dues as 'difficult'. This amount is four per cent higher than last year. A large part of this is due to pending cases before committees appointed by the court order. Recovery of dues is difficult. This is the amount which could not be recovered even after implementing all the measures of revival.

SEBI said in its 2023 annual report, "Separation of dues as Difficult to Recover (DTR) is purely an administrative exercise. This will not prevent the authorities from recovering the amount set aside as DTR."

According to the report, as of March 31, 2024, SEBI identified 807 cases as DTR. The total outstanding on these was Rs 76,293 crore. Whereas last year there were 692 cases worth Rs 73,287 crore. Out of these 807 cases, 36 cases are pending due to ongoing proceedings in state courts, National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

These cases involve an amount of Rs 12,199 crore. Apart from this, 60 cases are before the committees constituted by the court, involving Rs 59,970 crore. These two categories account for 95 per cent of the total amount yet to be recovered. SEBI has been releasing data on difficult cases of recovery of dues since 2021-22 through annual reports to increase the transparency of its proceedings.

Overall, SEBI has a recoverable amount of Rs 1.03 lakh crore. This includes those institutions which failed to pay the penalty or were ordered by SEBI to refund the investors' money but did not do so. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has the right to recover the penalties imposed by the adjudicating officer. SEBI initiated investigation in 342 new cases during 2023-24, much higher than the 144 cases taken up in the previous financial year.