Bharti Airtel has received a notice from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Karnataka, imposing a penalty of Rs 2,09,000. The fine follows a Customer Application Form (CAF) audit conducted for March 2026, which identified alleged violations regarding subscriber verification norms. The company has formally decided not to contest the penalty and will proceed with the payment.
Penalty Overview
On May 20, 2026, Bharti Airtel received an official communication from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Karnataka LSA. The authority has levied a penalty amounting to Rs 2,09,000 against the telecom major. This action stems from an audit process aimed at ensuring that operators strictly adhere to the government’s mandatory subscriber verification requirements.
Audit Findings and Rationale
The penalty is the result of a periodic Customer Application Form (CAF) audit conducted by the department for the month of March 2026. Under the terms of the existing license agreement, telecommunications service providers are required to conduct rigorous verification of all customers before enrolling them as subscribers. The audit allegedly uncovered instances where these verification protocols were not fully met.
Company Response
Following a review of the notice and the audit findings, Bharti Airtel has concluded that it will not contest the matter. The company has officially confirmed its decision to pay the Rs 2,09,000 fine. This settlement resolves the specific compliance issue identified by the authority for the specified audit period, with no further financial or operational impact reported beyond the penalty amount itself.
Source: BSE
