Illegal ILD Traffic - Infocomm penalty case

[kshah 452]

I think still Reliance has not stopped cheating. Yesterday when i got call from US, number displayed was 03136210799, since first call was missed, when I tried to call, system said, to resume services contact reliance customer care.

And contract is contract, one should think on first hand before signing contract.

[hyper 0]

something is definately up with reliance.

i just received a call from manila today & the number showed as if it was a local number. ( 022-39582430 ) when i tried calling it back again...after many BEEPS...it just said that this no is not available right now.

[deepu 0]

See some of the reports about illegal telephone exchanges that operate in India...

DoT unearths illegal telephone exchange in Delhi

Press Trust of India

New Delhi, October 8

The Department of Telecom has unearthed an illegal exchange in Delhi which was converting the incoming international call traffic into local calls using Internet leased lines.

A team comprising officials from DoT, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Delhi Police and Reliance Infocomm visited Prime Net Global which was running an Internet leased line of 512 kbps in a illegal manner, an official release said.

"This illegal exchange was bringing incoming international call traffic through Internet leased line and was further maturing the call to the called party by using high tech equipment and locally dialing and switching through," it said.

"Thus this presented the international call to the called party as local call, while actually the called party was speaking to calling party internationally," the release said.

The culprit in the present case, Sanjeev Solanki, has been arrested and case under the relevant sections of Indian Telegraph Act has been registered, it said.

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Illegal telephone exchange in Borivali

By: A Mid Day Correspondent

October 3, 2004

The Anti-Extortion Cell of the Crime Branch raided a house in OLG Villa, Medonna Colony, Borivali (W), on Friday and unearthed an illegal telephone exchange.

They seized satellite and telecommunication equipment worth Rs 29 lakh and arrested Gopal Shetty (56) for running the illegal operation at the behest of two wanted accused.

A case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Telegraphs Act 1950.

The operators of the illegal exchange, functioning since January 2003, had made provision for several telephone lines with ISD facilities that enabled these clients to receive international calls by bypassing authorised VSNL and MTNL’s international direct dialling routes, the police said.

In the raid, the police recovered 49 telephones, 50 extended chargers, 1 satellite modem, 2 RAD multiplexes, 1 voltage cut-off device, 1 booster, 1 panel of antenna, 1 dish antenna, an antenna tracking device, a computer, etc.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Shetty had retired from his job at a private company and was handling the operations here.

The police are now probing if the exchange was used to make any extortion calls, and if any calls were made through the exchange to television actor Mona Singh (Jassi).

On September 29, four persons had been arrested in connection with the threats made to the star.

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2 illegal telephone exchanges unearthed, 4 held

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

The Crime Branch of the Chandigarh police today claimed to have unearthed two illegal telephone exchanges connecting international calls to the USA on local charges by bypassing Indian security monitoring.

The illegal exchange are capable of breaking the satellite code for making international calls in alleged collusion with a New York-based licenced private operator.

The exchange operators are suspected to have caused a heavy loss to the licenced Indian international telephone call operators, including the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL).

In the first case, Vishnu Prasad Mohapatra and Naresh Kumar Gupta, who were running a franchise of Internet service provider Sify, were arrested along with special equipment to bypass security and international call routing monitoring in a raid. They were running their illegal business from a cabin in SCO No. 80, 81 and 82 in Sector 34.

Mohapatra told reporters that they were operating through voice over Internet telephony (VOIT) technology for which equipment was locally procured for Rs 85,000. They had installed two instruments and had 17 lease lines of M-Tel, Reliance and Connect to run their business.

According to the Crime Branch, the detection of the illegal exchange was difficult with this technology as the accused were Internet service providers and their office did not have any antennae to raise suspicion.

Crime Branch in charge K.I.P. Singh said the Crime Branch had been following these persons for more than a month. He said the Director Vigilance, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, had made visits to the city recently to detect the exchange causing great revenue loss to the company.

However, the VSNL had not succeeded in its attempts.

Mohapatra told reporters that his company used to take traffic on behalf of a local person and give a call to the New York exchange to make a call from the USA, a local one.

The police said the two allegedly used to get money through hawala from New York. The police had to procure call details from the USA to ascertain the revenue loss to the telecom companies licenced to carry international calls.

Mohapatra said he had started the business only a month back but the police was examining if he had been running such exchanges from three different places earlier.

Mohapatra said bypassing Indian international call service providers could be done through a configuration done by technical people on the Internet.

In a follow-up raid, the Crime Branch detected another illegal exchange running above the Sector 34 branch of Punjab and Sindh Bank.

Ajay and Ashish were arrested for running the exchange. This exchange had 15 lease lines of Spice.

All four have been booked under Sections 379, 420 and 120 B of the IPC. They have also been booked under Sections 4, 20, 20A, and 25 of the Indian Telegraph Act.

Inspector K.I.P. Singh said simultaneous raids were being conducted to arrest others who were also involved in the alleged racket.

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[dapoedbyreliance 0]

Basically Reliance are cheap thugs and cheats. The CEO etc should be put in jail.

They expoit any loophole in a totally immmoral fashion. They are a perfect example of how unethical a big company can get.

see this article in zdnet india.

zdnet article

[Chirag 5]

SC to hear Reliance-BSNL case on Dec 3

November 25, 2004 14:29 IST

Rediff.com

The Supreme Court on Thursday fixed December 3 as the next date of hearing on a petition filed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd challenging a Delhi high court interim order restraining the PSU from disconnecting the Points of Interconnection with Reliance over the issue of passing international calls as local ones.

When the matter was mentioned, a bench headed by Justice N Santosh Hegde directed the listing for hearing on December 3.

BSNL has said the Delhi high court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain the petition filed by Reliance as the TRAI Act has categorically ousted the jurisdiction of the courts to entertain such matters.

The Delhi high court had asked BSNL to maintain status quo on the issue of interconnection agreement with Reliance until the court decided on the issue.

The HC had directed Reliance to deposit Rs 40 crore (Rs 400 million) with BSNL. Different field units of BSNL have imposed a total amount of Rs 255 crore (Rs 2.55 billion) on Reliance for passing international calls as local ones, thereby causing revenue losses to the PSU.

[raccoon 53]

Basically Reliance are cheap thugs and cheats.  The CEO etc should be put in jail.

They expoit any loophole in a totally immmoral fashion. They are a perfect example of how unethical a big company can get.

see this article in zdnet india.

zdnet article

17780[/snapback]

Why make only Reliance the black sheep? For years they (BSNL) have exploited and harassed... Try dealing with with them ...you will have a tough time deciding who is worse!

[Chirag 5]

Reliance Info fined Rs 150 crore

November 26, 2004 17:25 IST

Rediff.com

The department of telecom on Friday imposed a penalty of Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.5 billion) on Reliance Infocomm for violating licence conditions by routing international calls as local ones.

The department has given Reliance seven days to respond to the notice as to why this penalty should not be imposed.

When contacted, top officials of Reliance confirmed the receipt of the notice and said the company would seek extension of the time period.

This is besides the payment of about Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) made by Reliance to Bharat Sanchar Nigam against a claim of over Rs 255 crore (Rs 2.55 billion) for avoiding payment of access deficit charge of Rs 4.25 per minute on incoming international calls.

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam has also claimed Rs 309 crore (Rs 3.09 billion) under the same clause.

DoT took the decision to impose the penalty after seeking legal opinion from the Law Ministry. Even as Reliance had submitted its reply to DoT's first show cause notice on October 20, the department, after internal examination of the reply and legal consultation, took the decision to impose the penalty.

Meanwhile, Reliance had approached the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain BSNL from disconnecting the Points of Interconnection till the final outcome of the controversy of routing of calls.

Though the Delhi High Court had agreed to Reliance's demand, BSNL challenged Delhi High Court's order and filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court saying the High Court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain such case as per the TRAI Act.

The case is slated to be heard on December 3. As per the licensing conditions, DoT can slap up to Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million) penalty for each circle for the first offence and even take the action of cancelling the licence in case the operator continues to violate them.

DoT, however, is of the opinion that there was no loss to the exchequer. Financial losses have been caused only to BSNL and MTNL in terms of non-payment of access deficit charge to the tune of Rs 4.25 per minute on incoming international calls.

[Arun 795]

DoT demands Rs 150 crore from Reliance Infocomm

NEW DELHI, DEC 23: The department of telecommunications (DoT) has issued a final order to Reliance Infocomm to pay up the penalty of Rs 150 crore for the violation of licence agreement in three circles.

According to DoT secretary Nripendra Misra, the order was passed on Thursday after seeking comments on showcause notices issued by DoT in the last few months. Sources in Reliance Infocomm, however, indicated that they had not received the order till late evening.

DoT had earlier issued a showcause notice to Reliance Infocomm asking why a penalty of Rs 150 crore should not be imposed for the violation of the licence agreement.

In one of the letters to Reliance Infocomm, DoT had written: “Due to causing of serious violations of licence conditions... which have gravely endangered public interest, you are required to show cause within seven days of receipt of this letter why an amount of maximum penalty as stipulated...for Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai...of Rs 50 crore making it total of Rs 150 crore should not be imposed against M/s Reliance Infocomm Ltd. Please note that this is a final opportunity afforded to you.”

According to Reliance Infocomm sources, the company has maintained that it has not violated any licence agreement. The company is also considering moving court against the DoT’s decision to impose a penalty. “If DoT insists on imposing a penalty, then Reliance Infocomm will move court,” the source said.

Reliance claims that the international calls in question were being routed through home country direct (HCD) service called Reliance India Call. “This service is a recognised service. As per its licence agreement conditions, the company can provide HCD service. The provision of HCD service does not require a separate licence,” the company has written in one of its letters to DoT.

Reliance Infocomm is alleged to have routed international calls on the networks of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited under the garb of domestic traffic. As a result, the two PSUs lost out on their due share of access deficit charges (ADC) on international calls.

The telecom PSUs had earlier informed the DoT about the illegal routing of international calls by Reliance Infocomm using their networks.

Meanwhile, BSNL has moved the Supreme Court seeking an injunction against the Delhi High Court order, which stopped the public sector company from taking any action against Reliance for the alleged violation. BSNL has made an appeal to the Supreme Court, asking for the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take charge of the dispute. The next Supreme Court hearing is in January.

BSNL has slapped a bill of over Rs 250 crore on Reliance Infocomm for illegal routing while MTNL’s bill is to the tune of Rs 270 crore.

[unwantedmails 0]

- TDSAT said its Contractual and go not license issue so go to the court.

- Court/BSNL said Disputes to go to TDSAT.

TABLE TENNIS ??????

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2005

Telecom dispute appellate tribunal TDSAT has reserved judgement on Reliance's appeal challenging the penalty of Rs 150 crore imposed by the government for illegal routing of international calls as local ones.

Arguments concluded on Tuesday with Reliance counsel Harish Salve contesting the government's reply that the company violated licence agreements, saying, "This is not a licensing issue. This is a contractual dispute between Reliance Infocomm and BSNL and the government should not have interfered."

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2005

At the outset of the hearing, BSNL’s counsel CS Sundaram contended that the court did not have jurisdiction to decide on the dispute and the appropriate forum for it was Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal. Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Infocomm, said that BSNL’s plea was an abuse of law as it has been filing such applications repeatedly at different fora.

[Arun 795]

Press Trust of India

Feb 24, 2005 16:17:00 - New Delhi

Concerned over the alleged scam involving hundreds of crores in rerouting of international calls, premier investigating agency CBI has launced a probe into working of Reliance Infocomm and some other top private telecom operators.

The probe by CBI comes amid a major crackdown by Department of Telecom and its PSUs which have imposed stiff penalties that have been challenged by Reliance Infocomm.

The CBI, which has initiated the probe suo-motu, has asked the concerned authorities to furnish relevant details of international telecom traffic which is alleged to have been rerouted as local calls to avoid payment to levy to telecom PSUs, CBI officials said.

The investigating agency stumbled upon the case during its investigations in the illegal telephone exchanges busted in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh recently during the agency's special drive on February two.

CBI officials said that during its investigations into the functioning of illegal exchanges in the Southern states, it had found involvement of certain private telecom companies and some officials of Department of Telecommunications.

The official said the companies had been asked to provide relevent details to the Economic Offences Wing of the CBI.

The officials, however, clarified that no case has been registered against Reliance and other telecom companies

[Arun 795]

MTNL to disconnect Reliance POIs

Friday, February 25, 2005

Irked over the non-payment of bills, the state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is gearing up to disconnect the points of interconnections (POIs) with Reliance Infocomm.

Reliance is yet to pay Rs 209 crores for the alleged routing of its long distance traffic through MTNL network. This has prompted telecom service providers in Delhi and Mumbai to start the process of disconnecting those POIs, where Reliance had not paid up fully.

Reliance is understood to have paid a total of Rs 100 crore, of which an equal share has gone to MTNL Delhi and Mumbai.

Sources said MTNL had slapped a bill of Rs 309 crore on Reliance Infocomm for routing international calls as domestic ones.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) had also alleged that Reliance was routing international traffic illegally through its network.

Reliance Infocomm had moved the Delhi High Court against BSNL on the issue of routing international calls on the PSUs network. Reliance has claimed that the bills presented by the PSUs were inflated. - UNI

[Arun 795]

Reliance Info case in last lap

New Delhi, Feb. 27

The Telegraph

The Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) is likely to give its verdict soon on the department of telecommunication's (DoT) allegation that Reliance Infocomm violated licence conditions.

Legal eagles feel that the judgment will set a precedent in the telecom sector.

The TDSAT has reserved judgment on Reliance’s appeal, challenging the penalty of Rs 150 crore imposed by the government for illegal routing of international calls as local ones.

A senior DoT counsel said, “If the order directs Reliance to pay up, the department can take action against other operators who have been sent a showcause notice. If the order is that there is no evidence of violation, the method used by Reliance can become a norm.”

The counsel said, “The ‘home country direct service’ is definitely a cheaper option for operators to bring down the ISD tariff that can be on a par with a local call.”

Using this service, an operator can use a network abroad to send and receive calls directly into its network in India, without going through the network of BSNL.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has alleged that Reliance has used this method to avoid access deficit charge (ADC). The ADC is given to BSNL for offering service in rural and inaccessible areas.

While the arguments concluded in the middle of this month, the DoT has been asked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to explain whether the private telecom operators, including BSNL and Mahangar Telephone Nigam Ltd, are carrying calls that cannot be traced and tracked.

The home country service is being claimed by operators as part of their licences for international long distance and unified access service.

According to a senior official in DoT, the CBI has initiated the probe suo-motu and has asked the department and private operators to submit details of international telecom traffic that is alleged to have been routed using the home country method.

A number of illegal telephone exchanges were busted in Tamil Nadu and Kerala during the last two months. The matter was brought to the notice of CBI and DoT was asked to examine the issue.

DoT sources said, “Along with private telecom companies, a few lines of BSNL were also alleged to have been used for illegal routing of call. We are examining the issue. But in case of Reliance we have enough evidence that indicates that they have used to method to divert the STD calls as local call.”

[Arun 795]

- Reliance Infocomm played foul: TDSAT

- Reliance Infocomm told to pay 1.5 bln rupee fine

- TDSAT rejects Reliance plea challenging Rs 150 cr penalty

- Reliance Infocomm has 3 days to pay penalty

- Major setback for Reliance Infocomm

New Delhi March 5, 2005

The Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on Friday ordered mobile services firm Reliance Infocomm to pay a fine of 1.5 billion rupees to the Department of Telecommunications for improperly rerouting international calls, a company spokesman said.

The TDSAT dismissed the firm's petition against the department and ordered it to pay the fine within three days, the spokesman said.

The firm is considering appealing against the tribunal's decision in the Supreme Court, the spokesman added.

Reliance Infocomm, India's largest CDMA-based mobile services provider, is 45-percent-owned by petrochemicals major Reliance Industries Ltd.

Reliance shares ended 2.4 percent higher at 571.90 rupees, while the Bombay market closed at a new high of 6,849.48 points.

Reliance Infocomm recently paid 1.87 billion rupees by way of a penalty to state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) and 1.06 billion to Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL), and it is still disputing further claims from the two companies in state courts

The company said it would challenge the decision in the Supreme Court next week.

Company executives, however, refused to confirm Rohatgi's statement and said "future course of action would be taken only after Reliance Infocomm had examined the judgment".

But more than the money, what's likely to hurt it more are the tough words used by the TDSAT.

Rejecting the Reliance plea, the bench held," …It is clearly established that he petitioner deliberately changed the nature of the calls and the method Reliance Infocomm Ltd employed to camouflage an international call was certainly unprincipled and if we may say so unscrupulous. This was in total breach of the license conditions putting the security of the nation in jeopardy"

Although Reliance Infocomm sources admit the TDSAT judgement is a major setback, the company's lawyers had come prepared for the worst.

They have confirmed they will challenge the order in the Supreme Court. "We will take matter to Supreme Court at the earliest. We wanted sometime but court has declined to grant us time. So maybe on Monday we will approach the apex court," said Mukul Rohatgi, counsel, Reliance Infocomm.

The ruling is a big victory for the IT and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran who's been saying he will act tough on those who break the rules.

Reliance Infocomm's bigger fight is with the two government-owned companies, MTNL and BSNL who claim the call re-routing robbed them of nearly Rs 4,500 crore since Reliance Infocomm didn't pay the access deficit charge levied on all international calls.

Legal experts say today's TDSAT order could have some impact on that case as well which is still being heard in the Delhi High Court.

"The method Reliance Infocomm employed to camouflage an international call was certainly unprincipled and, if we may say so, unscrupulous," a Bench comprising chairperson Justice D P Wadhwa and Members Vinod Vaish and D P Sehgal said in a 90-page order, while imposing a cost of Rs 25,000 on it.

Upholding the contention of Solicitor General G E Vahanvati, who appeared for the Department of Telecom (DoT), TDSAT said camouflaging of international calls by Reliance Infocomm was "in total breach of the licence conditions".

Reliance had denied the charge and pleaded through senior advocate Harish Salve that all records were being maintained and there was no stoppage for the licensor or any of the security agencies to call for the records and see from where the call originated.

Accepting Vahanvati's contention that such camouflaging posed serious security threat to the nation, the Bench said maintenance of records would not be of much help to the security agencies which had to act swiftly.

"When the security agencies want to monitor a call immediately/simultaneously that will be the crucial time to take action and not to wait for the records to be called by which time, it may be too late. With the spectre of terrorism and other dangers looming all over, even a second's delay could be disastrous," the Bench said.

The Government welcomed the verdict and said it justified the position taken by the Department of Telecom on illegal call routing.

"Our position stands justified because DoT always thought that a lot of illegal call-routing was done. That is why we fined them (Reliance) Rs 150 crore," Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran said when asked for comments on TDSAT judgement delivered by a bench headed by Justice D P Wadhwa.

"They (Reliance) went to TDSAT. TDSAT is the ultimate authority on telecom disputes and we really appreciate the judgement given in our favour," the Minister said.

Rejecting the Reliance plea that it did not violate any licencing norms and rerouting of calls was well within its purview, a three member TDSAT Bench, headed by Chairman Justice D P Wadhwa, dismissed the petition with cost saying the breach has put the "security of the nation in jeopardy." Immediately after the TDSAT judgement, Reliance Infocomm counsel Mukul Rohatgi, whose request for time was rejected by the Tribunal, told reporters that "we will challenge the decision in the Supreme Court on Monday.

The judgement would mean that Reliance would have to pay the penalty of Rs 150 crore immediately.

The Bench, which also includes members Vinod Vaish and D P Sehgal, said "having regard to all the circumstances, including the subject matter of license, the performance of the license provisions which have been breached, the circumstances in which breach was committed and the consequences of the breach, putting the security of the nation in jeopardy, we do not find it a fit case to be interfered with.

"Petition is dismissed with cost," it said.

Reliance Infocomm, headed by Mukesh Ambani, has so far paid Rs 294 crore to the two public sector telecom companies, BSNL and MTNL, as against the demand of Rs 504 crore for violation of Interconnect Usage Charge Agreement. Of this, over Rs 180 crore were paid by Reliance to BSNL on the direction of the Delhi High Court and the case is still pending. Challening the January 17 order of Deparment of Telecom (DoT) imposing the penalty for routing of the calls, Reliance Infocomm had moved TDSAT on January 19.

Reliance petition said that "there is no justification in DoT's decision to impose penalty" as there was no violation of any of the license's clause.

"The DoT appears to have taken the decision to impose penalty on us (Reliance Infocomm) with a pre-determined mind without taking into consideration the provisions of the license," the company had said in its reply to DoT.

In a point-wise response to the findings by DoT for imposing the penalty, Reliance Infocomm said change in Caller Line Identification (CLI) was a normal feature of operator-assisted services.

In its response to submission by Reliance, DoT had said last month that the reply by the private operator "established the intentions of the petitioners to continue its deceptions for as long as possible."

The TDSAT judgment is also a blow to the stance taken by telecom regulator Trai, which had argued that ADC violation was outside its jurisdiction and refused to investigate the case. However, the TDSAT judgement takes the wind out of this position. TDSAT says that RIC breached "interconnect regulations". Interconnect lies squarely in the Trai's jurisdiction.

TDSAT has also said that "there was a total breach of licence conditions". Section 11 of the Trai Act says that one of its jobs is to ensure compliance of licence conditions and investigate lapses.

RIC's lawyer Mukul Rohatgi said that the company would challenge the TDSAT judgment in the Supreme Court on Monday. RIC spokesmen contacted by TOI refused comment. The SC had earlier asked TDSAT to decide on the penalty issue.

Last year BSNL and MTNL had argued that RIC was passing off international calls as local ones, thereby avoiding large payments due to the public sector telecom companies. All private operators are required to pay a fee, called access deficit charge (ADC), to the state-owned companies to help the latter build rural networks. Under existing rules, ADC on international calls is nearly Rs 3 per minute more than that on local calls. This leaves an arbitrage opportunity for telecom companies.

BSNL and MTNL claim that in three-and-a-half months from the end of May to early September 2004, RIC owes both about Rs 604 crore, only for calls landing on fixed phones. This is about 5% of the 15 billion call minutes that have come to India since the ADC regime was established in May 2003.

Telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran welcomed the TDSAT decision, saying: "Our position stands justified because DoT always thought that a lot of illegal call-routing was done. That is why we fined them (Reliance) Rs 150 crore. We really appreciate the judgement given in our favour."

CPM MP Nilotpal Basu said that his party "reiterates its demand for removal of the Trai chairman (Pradip Baijal) and a full-scale enquiry into the entire scam".

Solicitor General Gulam Vahanavati focused his arguments on threat to national security in view of the camouflaging of international calls by Reliance by hiding CLI. “The modus operandi adopted by the petitioner was a criminal act. It was to conceal the true nature of the calls. Petitioner generated fake numbers that did not belong to any subscriber, misguided the recipients of the calls and misled the security agencies,” said Mr Vahanavati.

“It is not one or two dummy numbers. Rather these run into hundreds and thousands. The method Reliance employed to camouflage an international call was certainly unprincipled, and if we may say so unscrupulous. This was in total breach of licence conditions,” said Mr Vahnavati.

“The DoT appears to have taken the decision to impose penalty on us (Reliance Infocomm) with a pre-determined mind, without taking into consideration the provisions of the licence,” the company had said in its reply to DoT. Reliance Infocomm also said change in Caller Line Identification (CLI) was a normal feature of operator-assisted services.

Sources:

Reuters India

Economic Times

Financial Express

Times of India

NDTV.com

New Kerala

Business Standard

[rim-matrix 0]

I would think that this is a BIG blot on rel info- this was never expected from a company ike reliance.

This is a big question to it's integrity. I'm not really happy to be associated with such a company....

[anoopr 0]

I would think that this is a BIG blot on rel info-  this was never expected from a company ike reliance.

This is a big question to it's integrity. I'm not really happy to be associated with such a company....

28188[/snapback]

Reliance and integrity???

[Jacob 0]

Well, I have good experience in using Reliance's International Calling card from USA. I have purchased this card on net (relianceindiacall.com). It was the cheapest call available from USA to India and my fiancee used to call me using this card from USA. Initially the call quality was very good (just like getting a local call). the number displayed while receiving this call were different reliance landline numbers from across india (most of the time mumbai numbers). We used this facility for a while till the call quality gone worst. If you visit relianceindiacall.com, they mentioned this as direct home country calling plan, which TDSAT and all other regulatory authorities have failed to agree with. Well Re-liers!!

[Chirag 5]

SC stay on Infocomm penalty case

March 28, 2005 13:07 IST

Last Updated: March 28, 2005 13:17 IST

Rediff.com

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed proceedings before the Delhi High Court on a petition filed by Reliance Infocomm challenging BSNL's decision to impose a penalty of Rs 182.7 crore (Rs 1.82 billion) for alleged re-routing of international calls as local ones.

The Court also issued notices to Reliance Infocomm and other respondents on the petition of BSNL challenging the High Court order stating that it will decide both the jurisdictional aspects and the merit of the petition together.

BSNL had contended that the issue pertaining to re-routing of calls fell within the jurisdiction of the telecom dispute tribunal TDSAT and hence, the petition of Reliance should be transferred to the tribunal for adjudication.

However, Reliance had said the High Court also had the jurisdiction to hear its petition challenging BSNL's decision to levy the penalty on it.

Reliance Infocomm, headed by Mukesh Ambani, has so far paid Rs 294 crore (Rs 2.94 billion) to the two public sector telecom companies, BSNL and MTNL, as against the demand of Rs 504 crore (Rs 5.04 billion) for violation of Interconnect Usage Charge Agreement.

Of this, over Rs 180 crore (Rs 1.8 billion) was paid by Reliance to BSNL on the direction of the Delhi High Court and the balance of about Rs 114 crore (Rs 1.14 billion) to MTNL.

Besides this, Reliance has also paid Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.5 billion) to the government as penalty for violation of licensing conditions by routing international calls as local ones.

Reliance had challenged in TDSAT, the deparment of telecommunication's decision to impose penalty. But after losing the case, the private telecom operator deposited Rs 150 crore earlier this month.

[Arun 795]

BSNL demands Rs60cr more from RIC

Wednesday, 15 June , 2005, 07:38

New Delhi:

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has slapped another Rs 60 crore penalty on Reliance Infocomm for allegedly routing international long distance (ILD) calls as local calls.

BSNL had earlier raised a demand of Rs 263 crore, of which Reliance has paid up Rs 182 crore. With thefresh penalty by BSNL, the total outstanding amount now stands at Rs 130 crore.

According to data compiled by BSNL, the biggest loser has been the State-owned company's Kolkata circle, where the net outstanding against Reliance has been pegged at Rs 90.2 crore. BSNL's Chennai circle has also reported a net outstanding of Rs 23.7 crore.

Reliance Infocomm had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging BSNL's claims and the matter is now sub-judice.

[anujit 0]

Well I'm still getting ISD calls from fake RIM numbers!

[Arun 795]

Infocomm pays Rs 130 cr to BSNL

- Rediff.com

September 21, 2005 17:06 IST

Reliance Infocomm has paid Rs 130 crore (Rs 1.3 billion) to BSNL as part of its last payment due to the PSU for re-routing international calls.

With this, the BSNL has recovered the entire amount due on access deficit charges from Reliance Infocomm in the call re-routing case, BSNL sources said.

When contacted Reliance Infocomm spokesperson said, "This demand pertains to the period from May 2004 to September 2004 and is an earlier demand."

He, however, declined to elaborate saying the matter was subjudice. Earlier, the private operator had paid about Rs 182 crore (Rs 1.82 billion)

to BSNL and the payment of Rs 130 crore (Rs 1.3 billion) now would clear entire demand raised by the PSU, BSNL sources said.

BSNL had raised a demand of over Rs 310 crore (Rs 3.10 billion) from Reliance Infocomm last year when the company was headed by elder brother Mukesh Ambani.

The company had also paid Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.5 billion) as penalty imposed by department of telecom after Infocomm's petition was dismissed by the TDSAT.

Although the management of the company has changed and is under the control of younger brother Anil Ambani, who has challenged, in the Supreme Court, the TDSAT order upholding DoT's decision to impose Rs 150 crore penalty for violating the licence.

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Reliance Info ordered to pay Rs 40 cr to BSNL

In a set back to Reliance Infocomm, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the company to pay Rs 40 crore to state owned BSNL towards the levy on fixed wireless phone service as the same has been declared equivalent to limited mobile service by the telecom tribunal TDSAT.

BSNL had raised a demand of Rs 160 crore on Reliance Infocomm, of which the private operator had already paid Rs 10 crore. The direction to pay additional Rs 40 crore was given by the Division Bench of Justice, Mr Arijit Pasayat and Justice Mr S H Kapadi a.

Last month the TDSAT had passed a judgment stating fixed wireless phone services offered by Reliance Infocomm equivalent to a limited mobile service and, therefore, liable to pay relevant charges such as access deficit charge. Reliance Infocomm in the Su preme Court challenged the same. - PTI

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/28061406.htm

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