Idea opposes Rs 50 cr penalty in TDSAT

Idea Cellular today opposed the Rs 50 crore penalty imposed on it by the government for allegedly suppressing actual customer database and contended that it was not given a chance to place facts before the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

The Aditya Birla group firm submitted before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) that the DoT passed the order without even giving a mandatory notice and a chance to clarify its position over the allegations of suppressing customer database.

The TDSAT would continue its hearing tomorrow and DoT may put forth its submissions on this issue.

Senior advocate PD Kapoor, appearing for the Idea Cellular, contended that there was not even an enquiry by any security agency in this issue, in case there was a security breach in this as alleged by the DoT.

"There was not any show-cause notice issued by the DoT in this issue. There was not even any enquiry," said Kapoor adding that even if Idea has violated, there was no revenue loss to the government.

While checking the networks of Idea in the Andhra Pradesh DoT found that there was suppression of actual customer database and slapped Rs 50 crore penalty on it.

The number of pre-paid customers, who were not reported in the pre-paid customers database but were active in the month of April 2010 stood at 23,71,662 and 5,81,082 in May 2010.

As per the Telecom Enforcement and Resource Monitoring (TERM), vigilance cell of DoT, the company has not only violated the licence conditions and various instructions issued by DoT in respect of verification and re-verification of existing subscribers, but also poses a threat to the security of the nation.