Reliance Info violated licence: Govt

The Government has accused Reliance Infocomm of violating the licence by illegally routing international calls as local ones to avoid payment of levies to the telecom PSUs and alleged that the private operator had misrepresented the facts.

The Government has accused Reliance Infocomm of violating the licence by illegally routing international calls as local ones to avoid payment of levies to the telecom PSUs and alleged that the private operator had misrepresented the facts.

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Commenting on the response of Infocomm, headed by Mukesh Ambani, to the notice of Rs 150 crore penalty imposed on it by the Department of Telecom, the Government said in its counter affidavit before the appellate telecom tribunal (TDSAT) that the reply by the private operator "established the intentions of the petitioners to continue its deceptions for as long as possible".

The counter-affidavit was filed by the Department of Telecom in response to a petition filed by Reliance Infocomm, challenging the penalty of Rs 150 crore imposed on it by the Government for alleged illegal rerouting of international calls.

Meanwhile, NDTV quoted Communication Minister Dayanidhi Mararn as saying that the Government would not be a silent spectator in Reliance Infocomm case and its licence could be revoked in case the private operator did not pay the penaly (imposed on it by the Department of Telecom).

The TV channel, however, said that Maran was of the view that it was for the courts to take the final decision in the case.