Bharti Airtel has paid a penalty of ₹6,67,000 to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) following a notice regarding alleged violations of subscriber verification norms. The telecom operator received the communication from the Andhra Pradesh LSA on June 09, 2026, and decided not to contest the order. The financial impact is limited to the penalty amount levied by the authority.

The notice was issued under the terms of the License agreement, which mandates the company to ensure adequate verification of customers before enrolling them as subscribers. The DoT conducts periodic Customer Application Form (CAF) Audits to confirm compliance with these licensing terms and conditions. The penalty was imposed following such an audit by the authority.

Rohit Krishan Puri, Company Secretary & Compliance Officer at Bharti Airtel, disclosed the details of the notice to the exchanges under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The company confirmed that the information submitted regarding the penalty and the subsequent decision to pay it was true and correct to the best of its knowledge.

The table below outlines the key details of the regulatory action:

Bharti Airtel Limited has secured a major legal victory after the Bombay High Court allowed its petition and set aside a demand notice from the Department of Telecommunications regarding one-time spectrum charge (OTSC). The judgment, delivered on June 8, 2026, disposes of a liability of Rs 8,414 Cr, providing substantial financial relief to the telecom operator. This decision specifically nullifies a demand of Rs 473.7 Cr pertaining to its subsidiary, Bharti Hexacom Limited, related to the Rajasthan and North East telecom circles.

The company had filed a petition challenging the demand notice originally dated January 8, 2013. While the initial demand stood at Rs 5,201.2 Cr, it was subsequently revised upwards by the authorities in 2018. The total disputed amount included the specific claim of Rs 473.7 Cr related to Bharti Hexacom Limited's operations. The court's decision effectively removes the financial overhang that had persisted for over a decade.

Details of the Litigation

The legal proceedings centered on the validity of the OTSC demand raised by the Department of Telecommunications. The following table summarises the key details of the case:

The judgment was uploaded to the Bombay High Court's website on June 8, 2026, at 17:56 Hrs IST. The disclosure was made to the exchanges in compliance with Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.