Corporates Playing with Nations Security

Dear Sir,

We initially signed an Agreement with Bharti Tele Ventures Limited/ Bharti Telemedia Limited in 2004 for Selling Airtel Broadband Connections in Delhi/ NCR.

Since our inception in the business, we were acquiring sales for Broadband and process cases having clear documents as per mandate of the DOT, and ignored other cases, unless the documents were provided at par with the documentation guidelines. Looking at this approach, we were approached by Bharti Airtel Limited through its then Territory Manager Sh. Ankit Wadhwa, for promoting the sales of Postpaid Mobile Connections, which was a big achievement for us. We signed an Agreement with Bharti Airtel Limited in 2005 for Selling Airtel Postpaid Connections in Delhi/ NCR. We were one of the oldest Channel Partner and currently stands terminated vide your Termination Notice in Dec 2014 which is on the basis of suspicious reasons.

As we started our business with Bharti Telemedia Limited and Bharti Airtel Limited, focused and preferred selling Broadband Connections as compared to Postpaid Connections, due to our past experience in IT Industry. While working for Bharti Telemedia Ltd., we got completely engaged in Telemedia Business and left our IT business. While selling Broadband Connections, we faced certain operational problems which varied from time to time like at initial times changing of Channel Partner Codes (on Sales acquired by us), due to which the commission was not credited to us.

Over escalation of this problem to the then Senior Officials in your Telemedia Zonal Office, the problems started arising, as there was no action that was taken care of. Having our hard work involved in this Sales acquisition work, we continuously followed up those cases, due to which the Company Sales Personnel’s treated us as one of the obstacle in their working.

At this time, we started comparing ourselves with the other employees and sales partners in Telemedia, and came to know, that the new Sales codes on the sales acquired by us, was even been supported in terms of provision of Sales Leads by the Personnel’s, whereas we had not been provided with any such support. When we escalated these facts again, of non provision of Sales Leads to us, and Sales code changing, some of the problems like change of Sales code declined, but at the same time officials instead of correcting the integrity problems, treated us a Major obstacle, but they can’t show off their perception, as they wondered how we came to know, that they are providing support to some other working employees/ sales partners.

As we were treated as an obstacle in their way, we were started treating in an obnoxious manner, and suffered in some way or another (like rejecting the documents acquired by us or requiring Customer’s Original ID, on the plea of blurred ID proof, whereas Bharti officials processed the blurred documents of other employees/ specific partners, even though the Sales includes fake documents, like usage of Rent Agreement without customer involvement, or using Xerox copy of ID Proof by pasting the photo on the blurred/ not visible Photo on Photo ID).

Eventually, we were so much harassed (as we reported and escalated the unethical activities which were adopted by Airtel officials and these specific sales channels), that we were forced to stop operating and resign from Telemedia. Even, the payments were with-hold’ed by the Senior Management.

As the payments were with-hold’ed forcefully by Airtel Officials, on the basis of wrong plea of delayed-submission of Invoices, we used help from one of our acquired Client, who is very close known to the top-management of Bharti. The then Top Management (Sh. Sanjay Kapur Ji’s, CEO Office) on knowing this problem, helped released the unethically with-hold’ed payments, and we closed our relations with Telemedia, but continued our operations for Bharti Airtel Limited for sales of Postpaid Mobile Connections.

After looking at operational problems within Bharti Telemedia Limited we then focused selling Airtel Postpaid Connections. Initially we started our operations with only 8-10 Telecallers and through our hard work and dedicated goal towards achievement of targets; we accomplished our targets after one year of operation on 31st December 2006.

It is not like that, that this region was free from operational problems. Operational concerns were found to be following here also. But when you work within the corporate system, then rather to focus on problems, one should always focus on Goals & targets laid by the corporate, so did we do. Moreover, there were two more major reason for this ignorance initially-
Firstly, was the support of Mr.Ankit Wadhwa (Not any out of the way support, but meare a Finger holding in times when we felt demotivated during the periods of non-accomplishment of targets, as non achievement of targets results in huge monthly losses or when we face hurdle from Airtel Backend team like allotment of specific numbers which used to slow down our operations).

Secondly, we saw the final outcome of a whistleblower in Bharti Telemedia.

Soon through our continuous focus on documentation auditing and provision of mostly advance rental plan to customers, so that bed debts with fake documents are automatically ignored and customers having a clean intent of using a postpaid connection for personal or business purposes are issued the postpaid connection. We were also rewarded with an International trip & a Certificate “Mission Impossible” for our outstanding efforts in achieving our Sales Targets during Sep-Oct 2007.


Looking at the clean intent, and outstanding achievement, we were then presented with an opportunity in October 2010 to get promoted from DSA to a Alex DSA (Alexander DSA). As the mandate for this opportunity is to increase the Telecallers base to 40 Telecallers, we accepted this opportunity as we had ready infrastructure to accommodate 40 Telecallers. This was again one more step towards recognition in Airtel. We were then looked by Mr. Sumit Sangwan & Mr. Arjun Dhillon (in Airtel Delhi Circle Office).

Though there were some operational problems, from time to time, like non availability of any specific/ premium number (which was actually vacant and can be made available to the customer, but were not made available to us for sales even if required by the customer), which was one of the major reason in non accomplishment of our Sales Targets, which resulted in losses.

The concerns rose, when some of these specific customer upon following upon by the Telecallers, confirmed that the same number was made available by some other Airtel Partner, whereas we declined the availability of specific numbers to them. Looking at this as one of the major reason behind our losses, we started checking out the details, on how come the numbers which were not made available by us, were made available from other Sales Partners.

We successfully obtained some evidences of provision of specific number/ Premium numbers allocated to some specific DSA’s by two Airtel Employees named Mr. Chandra and Mr. Sujesh. Some of these partners were also common in adopting usage of manufactured documents/ fake documents for postpaid activations.

Though we were one of the only two partners, who were actually the Top Sales Partners viz. Alex DSA, (having 40 Telecallers), were actually in financial losses (due to biased support and ignoring the means of fake documents) where as those specific DSA’s were performing better in terms of Sales acquisition (adopting unfair means for postpaid mobile activation and getting supported out of the way) than us,with far less Telecallers than us.

Hence, we were top performers by Name, whereas these partners were actually top performers in terms of financial returns.

So, for us, we could have ignored our losses that we faced, if there was an equal support provided to us also. So, looking in a positive manner, we approached Mr. Rajesh Dudeja (Vice President-CSD, who was heading the team from which biased support arise), and showed the evidences of usage of unfair means in promoting certain partners and presented that if the same support is equally provided to all partners then the Sales could have been automatically increased, and there would be no losses that would be faced by specific sales partners (due to which majority of Channel Partners leaves the system, just due to losses), but Mr. Dudeja, instead of reacting on a positive note, told us to leave the concerns, as it is, and just look into our business only, which gave a hint of a major involvement in the unethical practice area.

So, approaching Mr. Dudeja, was again an unknown setback for us, as we thought of getting some positive support, but not got any result out of it and instead we unknowingly alarmed them that we are watching this suspicious matter very closely, as we had showed them all the evidences. So,they wondered again how come we collected all such evidences. Now, for us, the entire CSD wing was just equivalent to Telemedia Team.

Anyways, after getting no result from CSD Team, I approached Mr. Deepak Nakra (G.M. Marketing), for my financial losses that occurred and told the epic of ignorance by Mr. Dudeja (which was a setback for us, as he was one of the top management authorities in Circle Office looking for entire documentation and support). Upon hearing, Mr. Dudeja, took a very short time and soon we were presented us an opportunity to getting promoted to Super DSA (on fixed cost). In 2011, we were promoted to Super DSA on fixed cost model, and again shifted to North East Zone (so as to provide support, as Circle Level Officers were not able to help much in case of concerns which arose).

We were again, looking at the positive aspect, started our operations back, and the hard time once again appeared back when Mr. C. Surenderan joined in Bharti Airtel as COO-Delhi Circle Office. We were told by the North East Zonal Office, that a new model has again been introduced on a common platform. We were again thrown into the same bucket, where almost all partners who were profitable were adopting the fake documentation techniques for postpaid connection activations, out of which some of the partners were also supported on a biased approach.

Knowing the work culture within the system, we were ready to face challenges this time also. We maintained our principles of ethical working and maintained our strict audit parameters which resulted in non accomplishment of our monthly targets laid by our new COO’s most of the times. Due to this, we again faced stringent losses while our working in the system. Whenever, we were called by our Zonal Office for a review, the comparative outcome of partners showed our lagging in terms of Sales acquisition which was the main reason behind our losses. We were also suggested to adopt the techniques which other partners/ employees were adopting which may be ignored by us. By this time, we were confident enough to try our level best while exposing the unfair practices which were being adopted by most partners, and is always ignored and never accepted by the Company Officials. While working, I found, that the major part of the corporate system compromised and none of them have courage to accept it. Following were the major gaps, which were derived out of our working:

1. Customer’s having No Address Proof’s were processed with documents like Rent Agreement (Created without customer intervention) as an POA
2. Customer’s unclear POI, were processed by pasting a similar photo on POI, and then a Xerox copy is created. Using this fake POI, the Postpaid Mobile Connections were issued and activated
3. The Tele Verification process (T.V. is a process laid by DOT for customer re-verification) was also compromised. Partners were having an ID through which they can bypass the TV Process without customer intervention.
4. The Audit Agency laid by Bharti Airtel, NSB BPO Solutions Pvt. Ltd. was also compromised. The employees of NSB BPO, demanded money/ liquor for ignoring the unclear POI/ POA and processed POI/ POA.
5. Ignoring all this, the Sales vertical continuously focused on achievement of Sales Targets, and provided biased support, as those who were acquiring more sales were supported more in terms of Calling Data and Sales Leads provision just due to more Sales conversion.

* Point 1 & 2 were already known, as an culture of Sales in Airtel Telemedia. In this working, so as to re-assure ourself before deriving to the final conclusions, we involved our cases also, and found the gaps as correct.

In 2014, we approached the new COO for Delhi Circle Mr. Venkatesh Rangachari, to pass on the complete information, but again he was not of much help. Infact, he was the one who was over and above others and rejected the facts presented as he was not aware of having evidences with us at that time. As soon as we disclosed the evidences, he stated that "Airtel now don't want to continue anymore with you" and then called Security to send us out of Airtel Gurgaon Office, as we re-requested to take an justified action on adoption of unfair practices.

Looking to no resort, we tried approaching Mr. Sarang Kanade, CEO- Delhi Circle, who again ignored meeting us.

As a last resort, we escalated the ignorance of unfair business practices to the new All India CEO-Mr. Gopal Vittal, and not the least Sh. Sunil Bharti Mittal. On whom, I got a Call from the Mr. Ramagiri Srikant, DGM - Corporate Assurance Group, who gathered the evidences along with an indirectly requested the sources of evidences. He, along with Mr. Sudeep Chopra/ Mr. Anand Bansal (Unknown Entity to us) listened to our complaints for about an hour, after which I was arranged a short meet with Mr. Mario Perira, Group Director. Nothing yielded out of these meetings also, and we just got a perception that the complete epic was just to make them well aware about kind of evidences, and gathering of source of leakage of information. In the meeting, the unique thing that I was told that the Ombdusperson-Ms. Vijaya Sampath, to whom we were trying to send the mail, had already left the system long back, and there is no ombudsperson as such. The fact can be re-verified from the below given link which contains a message by Mr. Manoj Kohli, President- Bharti.

http://www.airtel.in/partnerworld/Message_manoj.htm

The above Link contains a link to reach ombdusman which is again not working

http://www.airtel.in/campaigns/partnerworld/partnerworld/Ombudsman_Policy&Process.html



This is again can be re-verified by visiting the complaint by a consumer on Consumer Court forum.

http://www.consumercourt.in/broadband/64198-airtel-ombudsman-email-id-does-not-work-what-rubbish.html




At last, when no action was taken care of we approached Mr. Kunal Pandit, Zonal business Manager – North East Zone, who was heading our portfolio, and informed that until an action is taken care of, we would become Inactive and will stop selling Airtel Postpaid Connections, till the time a justified action is taken care of and would soon start selling Vodafone Postpaid Connections. As soon as we issued the above statement, within three days, Airtel issued a letter dated 26th Nov 2018 containing false allegations which occurred dated 18th Oct 2014 of detaining an Airtel partner employee (who is actually one of the compromised partners working as Airtel’s National partner under CSD division) so as to counter attack on the concerns raised and tried to make us as a scapegoat being a whistle-blower.

We filed a reply, on 29th Nov, 2014 against the letter dated 26th Nov, 2014, and marked the e-mail to Sh. Sunil Bharti Mittal Ji, Sh. Manoj Kohli (President), Sh. Gopal Vittal (CEO-All India), Sh. Sarang Kanade (CEO-Delhi Circle), Sh. Ajay Puri (Director-Market Operations), Sh. Mario Pereira (Group Director) and Sh. Kunal Pandit (Zonal Business Manager - Delhi) and confirmed that we would be forced to treat Airtel Official’s silence as ignorance, and confirmed that we would not be left with any other option to inform all such activities to TERM, and file a legal complaint.

As soon as we sent this email, we received a termination letter dated 2nd December on 8th December 2014 on the basis of non-performance. Hence, in all when we tried to correct the adoption of unfair practice in the system, we were thrown out of the system, on the basis of suspicious reason, leaving the adoption of unfair practices behind.

This doesn’t ends here as a result of an Whistleblower: When we approached Vodafone authorities, who were very eager and positive to empanel us a vendor for providing Sales of Postpaid Connections, also rejected empanelling us, without any specific reasons. When reconfirmed from a old known acquaintance working in Vodafone, confirmed that they received a call from Airtel Zonal employees not to empanel us an vendor as we are a threat to the working culture.

In all, The entrepreneur who was once recognized as one of the two Super DSA‘s in entire Delhi Circle, who activated the highest numbers of MNP activations in Delhi, who achieved International trips, recognition’s, certificates of outstanding efforts, is now treated as a threat to the complete system.

The entire problem actually is Corporate Competition (There could be multiple reasons behind this competition like leaving the other Telecom operator behind for the sake of Higher profitability, increasing No. of Subscribers for net worth, increasing Market Capital, gaining Loans from Banks etc), for which the Corporate are compromising their ethics. When a corporate is compromised, even its employee’s follows the same work culture, and that is the reason why most of the employees don’t raise their voice. . Some of the employees ignore adoption of unfair practices to achieve more sales, Some of the employees lay higher sales targets/ Or increase Sales Targets for franchisees in order to get promoted, Some of the employees lay lucrative compensation plans for franchises/ employees to attain more profits, Some of the employees discontinue low profit making Bill Plans/ Or increase rent/ Or decrease Plan Benefits to consumer in order to post profits in book of accounts and get promotions.
At last, there is very rare occurance of a Supporting Manager. We were carrying on the operations just with the hope that one day definitely things will get improved and we will be recognized not for our hard work but for adoption of Ethics in Business. But at the last understood that we actually co-fronted with some very big master attackers within the system who was none other than the Top Management, to whom Govt. issued a license to serve but who is actually playing with Nation’s Security, and in our eyes there is no difference in them and the Indians who helped Britisher’s to get our India sold, and compromised their ethics.

In last, our Motto of adoption of ethics in Business fall down, leaving an entrepreneur much behind in this competitive world, who is now searching for any ethical work which is really hard to find in today’s competitive world. It would be of great help, if anyone could actually safeguard our own India, as this is a direct threat to nation’s Security, by exposing this nuclear chain of ignoring unfair practice and looking personal profitability. more