NEW DELHI: Five telecom firms have under-reported revenues to the tune of Rs 14,813.97 crore, leading to a Rs 2,578.83 crore shortfall in payments to the exchequer.
According to the performance audit report released by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Tata Tele, Telenor, Quadrant Televentures, Videocon Telecommunications and Reliance Jio had under-reported revenues in the period leading up to the end of 2014-15. The CAG pointed out that the five operators had deducted more revenue than allowed under the licence and spectrum usage agreements.
“The verification of records of five PSPs by audit indicated total understatement of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) of Rs 14,813.97 crore for the period up to 2014-15 and consequent short payment of revenue share to Government of India to the tune of Rs 1,526.70 crore. The interest due on the short paid revenue share, for the period up to March 2016 was Rs 1,052.13 crore,” the audit report said.
Tata Teleservices had underpaid exchequer’s dues in license fees and spectrum usage charges (LF and SUC) by Rs 1,111.23 crore for the period, Telenor by Rs 368.13 crore, Videocon by 29.20 crore, Quadrant by Rs 13.04 crore and Reliance Jio by Rs 5.10 crore. The cumulative interest on the ‘short paid revenue share’ stands at Rs 1,052.13 crore, said the CAG.
The CAG’s report is based on audits done on Tata Teleservices and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd from 2010-11 to 2014-15, Quadrant Televentures (2006-07 to 2014- 15), Videocon Telecom (2009-10 to 2014-15), Telenor (2009-10 to 2014-15) and Reliance Jio Infocomm (2012-13 to 2014-15).