Under accounting is criminal offence: ITU

NEW DELHI, INDIA: It is indeed a difficult time for telecom companies. Even before they are cleared in the 3G roaming pact controversy, the department of telecommunications (DoT) has accused them of misleading the government.

DoT is planning to slap penalties to the tune of Rs 1,594 crore to various service operators for under accounting their revenues between 2006 and 2008.

As the department is gearing up to slap notices on operators, the ITU-APT Foundation said that the private telecom operators have committed a criminal offence with an intention to cheat the government.

Speaking to CIOL, Dr Roop N Bharadwaj, executive member of the ITU-APT Foundation of India,  said that under accounting by private telcos is a matter of grave concern.

“These private firms have committed economic blunder and criminal conspiracy, leading to loss to the government exchequer,” he said.

Since they pay to the government for certain licences and privileges, their conduct should be transparent, added Bharadwaj.

With approval from the law ministry, the department is currently doing an assessment and will take the matter to the ministry of communications and IT for a final decision.

Based on external audit, the department is planning to issue notices to Reliance Communications for Rs 593 crore; Bharti Airtel for Rs 292 crore; Tata Teleservices for Rs 293 crore; Vodafone for Rs 254; Loop for Rs 98 crore; and Sistemsa Shyam for Rs 63 crore.