HC directs police to institute a probe against Sify Ltd

New Delhi, Apr 14 (UNI) The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Police to probe the charges levelled by a Delhi-based advocate and subscriber against internet service provider Sify Ltd for allegedly increasing the tariff rate without informing him.

Advocate Meet Malhotra had moved the High Court seeking direction to the Police for the registration of an FIR against Sify.com which allegedly cheated him by increasing the tarrif without proper information.

The Court further directed the police to submit its report at the earliest before a Magistrate who could pass appropriate orders in accordance with law.

Mr Malhotra further submitted that the service provider had duped its subscribers of crores of rupees as any information with regard to such increase in tariff would have led to migration by substantial numbers to another service provider.

As per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) regulations, service providers are supposed to inform its subscribers about any information pertaining to increase in tariff through the newspapers.

Mr Malhotra alleged that his account was being used up at a much faster speed than its actual use. On inquiry, the company had informed him that it was entitled to debit 12 minutes every time of logging on to the net as per the TRAI regulations, the petition said.

However, Sify had refuted the charges saying that they are ''totally false and baseless'' and the petition was filed to harass it and the entire matter was of a civil nature, not amounting to an offence.

The provider said that the change in its tariff plans in May 2002 was informed to all its subscribers including the petitioner through mail.

Sify Ltd had filed an appeal seeking quashing of the September 2005 order of the single judge for registration of FIR.

UNI PAT VD RS1733