The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is likely to slap a demand notice of Rs.650 crore on Bharti Airtel for allegedly violating licence norms on subscriber local dialling (SLD) services.
“DoT this week has approved imposition of demand notices of financial penalty of Rs.500 crore and Rs.100 crore, respectively, on Bharti Airtel for violating licence conditions by provisioning of SLD services,” sources said.
Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal has approved the recommendations of a DoT committee which stated that the maximum permissible financial penalty of Rs.50 crore each for 13 circles where the violations took place may be imposed on Bharti Airtel.
When contacted, a Bharti Airtel spokesperson said, “We haven’t received any such notice and, therefore, will be unable to comment.”
