Bharti Airtel stares at Rs 650 crore penalty for licence violation

In a big setback for Bharti Airtel, a Department of Telecommunications (DOT) committee has reportedly recommended a stiff Rs 650 crore penalty on India's biggest mobile carrier for licence violation.

Sources told NDTV that the committee has imposed the maximum possible penalty of Rs 50 crore per circle on Bharti for violation of the national long-distance (NLD)/international long distance (ILD) licence conditions in 13 circles. The violations reportedly took place between 2000 and 2005.

The committee has reportedly alleged that Bharti Airtel routed national and international calls as local calls, causing loss to the exchequer and state run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

The recommendation has been sent to the telecom ministry for approval.

"We are in compliance of all regulations. All relevant details have already been provided to the authorities," a Bharti spokesperson said.