Bharti Airtel falls on possible 6.5 billion rupee fine

Reuters Market Eye - Shares in Bharti Airtel fall nearly 2 percent after reports that the company could be asked to pay 6.5 billion rupees for alleged breach of telecoms licensing rules nearly a decade ago.

Bharti was allowing roaming subscribers to make and receive calls at local prices, which the telecoms ministry says bypassed rules for national long-distance calls, according to an official with knowledge of the matter. The services were allowed between 2002 and 2005, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.

A Bharti Airtel spokesman declined to comment saying the company was yet to receive any notice from the ministry. Typically, the telecoms ministry asks companies to first explain why action should not be taken against them before sending the penalty notice.

Carriers including Bharti have in the past challenged in courts fees and penalties imposed by the government. The cases are still on.

Bharti shares were down 1.7 percent at 309.70 rupees.

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy)