HIGHLIGHTS
The malpractice came to light after the UIDAI investigated a complaint from an individual.
It said that Bharti Airtel opened a payments bank account without his permission and also linked it to receive LPG subsidy.
The amounts were collected in an improper fashion and in violation of UIDAI norms.
NEW DELHI: As much as Rs 167 crore was deposited by 31.21 lakh customers in their Airtel Payments Bank accounts which were activated without their "informed consent", leading to suspension of Aadhaar-linked KYC verification of Bharti Airtel and Airtel Payments Bank.
The discovery that subsidy amounts for LPG were being deposited in these accounts has led to officials suggesting that it would be appropriate if the sums were returned to the customers. The amounts were collected in an improper fashion and in violation of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) norms.
He added that the government should stop sending subsidy to payments banks and wallets as the UIDAI investigation found that in several cases, cooking gas subsidies were transferred in the Airtel Payments Bank account of customers without their knowledge, while they had linked the subsidies to their savings bank accounts.
After investigating the case, the UIDAI in its interim order barred Bharti Airtel and Airtel Payments Bank from conducting Aadhaar linked e-KYC verification of SIM cards and bank clients.
The UIDAI found that at the time of mobile verification using Aadhaar e-KYC, Airtel retailers were also opening Airtel Payments Bank accounts. The opening of bank account was integrated with the process of mobile verification.
On Wednesday, UIDAI's move took a toll on the Bharti Airtel stock as at 2.20 pm, it was down 3 per cent on the NSE. In comparison, the broader market was up 0.7 per cent