Discriminatory treatment on bank guarantee, alleges Reliance Communications (RCOM)

NEW DELHI, July 12: Protesting against the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) discriminatory treatment regarding bank guarantee, Reliance Communications (RCOM) has written to the telecom secretary flagging the issue, according to sources.

“RCOM has protested to DoT against discriminatory treatment in favour of Vodafone-Idea on bank guarantees (BGs). It said DoT is still challenging return of RCOM OTSC (one-time spectrum charge) bank guarantees of Rs 2,000 crore despite a clear-cut TDSAT order,” a source said. RCOM said in the letter that no bank guarantee was sought by DoT regarding Vodafone OTSC demands on identical facts, prior to the merger approval.The company said Vodafone OTSC demands are Rs. 9,000 crore, which is more than four times the RCOM OTSC demands.

“RCOM said DoT is adopting unfair, inconsistent and discriminatory approach,” sources said. (IANS)