Vodafone India contesting Matrix Cellular allegations over SIM renting case:

Telecom operator Vodafone has contested allegations levelled on it by international SIM card provider Matrix Cellular that the telecom major misrepresented facts in SIM renting case of 2007 in which Department of Telecom and Intelligence Bureau found various irregularities.

"The allegations made by Matrix are without merit and will be strongly contested, as appropriate," Vodafone India's spokesperson told PTI in response to e-mail query. In 2007, DoT had found involvement of Vodafone, Airtel and Idea in a case where the three had sold bulk connections to third parties who in turn were selling those SIM cards to retail subscribers and in the process flouted certain rules. The Department is also learnt to be in process of issuing fresh show cause notice to these companies.

DoT says it has found Vodafone and Matrix Cellular entered into one such agreement, but Vodafone, before the telecom tribunal TDSAT, had contested "that it had no knowledge of the purported activities of 'Matrix' so far as giving on rental the SIM cards issued to it is concerned."

Matrix has alleged that Vodafone misrepresented facts to DoT and TDSAT. "Matrix believes that Vodafone has misrepresented facts to the DoT and TDSAT. The business that Matrix engaged in was at all times legal and with the express, written consent of Vodafone", it had said last week.