DoT seeks Kapil Sibal’s nod to impose Rs600-crore fine on Anil Ambani’s RCom
29 Jun 2012
The Department of Telecom (DoT) is planning to seek Communication Minister Kapil Sibal nod to levy a fine of Rs600-crore on Reliance Communications (RCom) and its unit Reliance Telecom (RTL) for switching off mobile services in several states without informing, according to a today report in the Economic Times.
DoT alleges that both the companies had unilaterally switched off mobile services in 12 states between 16 November 2010 and 10 January 2011, allegedly in breach of the shared mobile infrastructure regulations.
The Access Services (AS) wing of the DoT has recommended imposing a fine of Rs450 crore on RCom and Rs150 crore on RTL for the alleged violation.
But Kapil Sibal had reduced the fine to a mere total of Rs5.5 crore, which was promptly paid by the companies.
An NGO filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court alleging that Sibal had favoured the Anil Ambani-controlled companies.
Without naming any one, Sibal had alleged that PIL was being used for settling personal scores.