New Delhi: Bharti Cellular came under intelligence agency's scrutiny when they unearthed five cases where foreign nationals had obtained mobile connections from the private operator without furnishing local address and proper identification, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday (Dec 15, 2004).

The intelligence agency on September 30, 2004, brought to the notice of department of telecommunications five cases where foreign nationals have obtained mobile telephone connections at Kolkata from Bharti Cellular on the basis of foreign address/incomplete or vague local address, Shakeel Ahmed, Minister of State for Communications, said.

Bharti Cellular has terminated the dealership of dealers who issued mobile phone connections to foreign nationals at Kolkata after the private operator was summoned for explanation by the DoT on receipt of the letter from agency, the Minister added.

The service provider has also stated that they have issued warning letters for strictly following the verification process and has also taken steps to strengthen the process.

On receipt of the letter from the agency, DoT issued a letter on October 15 to all cellular operators including those who migrated to unified licences reiterating the instructions regarding verification of identity of subscribers.

In this letter it has been stated that in case such instances of non-verification of identity of subscribers is noticed, in future, it would be treated as breach of terms and conditions of licence agreement and action would be taken accordingly.