Reliance Info pays Rs 130 cr to BSNL

Reliance Infocomm has paid Rs 130 crore to BSNL as part of its last payment due to the PSU because of the former's alleged re-routing of international calls.

With this, the BSNL had recovered the entire amount due on access deficit charges (ADC) from Reliance Infocomm in the call re-routing case, BSNL sources said.Reliance Infocomm spokesperson said, "This demand pertains to the period from May 2004 to September 2004." He declined to elaborate saying the matter was subjudice.

Earlier, the private operator had paid about Rs 182 crore to BSNL. Now, the payment of Rs 130 crore would clear the entire demand made by the PSU, BSNL sources said.

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

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

The management of the company has changed and is under the control of the younger brother Anil Ambani. He had challenged in the Supreme Court the TDSAT order which upheld DoT'S decision to impose Rs 150 crore penalty for violating the licence.