Loop Telecom on Tuesday approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against the government and the sector regulator TRAI seeking a refund of Rs, 4,700 crore from the government.

This includes 1,454 crore licence fee paid while obtaining 21 mobile permits in 2008 and an interest of 737.59 crore at SBI prime lending rates till April 31 this year. It also demanded discharge of its performance bank guarantees worth 696.04 crore, and asked the government to return 'wrongly levied' liquidated damages of 7.8 crore with interest.

Apart from this, Loop Telecom also sought compensation of 1,000 crore with interest from the government for 'loss of reputation.' The telco demanded around 800 crore it spent on infrastructure.

A TDSAT bench headed by its Chairman Justice S B Sinha issued notice to the Department of Telecom (DoT) and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

The tribunal has asked the DoT and Trai to file their reply within four weeks and posted the matter on July 17 for next hearing.

The Supreme Court on February 2 this year had cancelled all the 122 spectrum licences allotted in 2008 during the tenure of the former telecom minister A Raja.

"The reason for quashing the first come first serve policy, the UASLs and the subsequent allocation of the spectrum are wholly and absolutely attributable to the acts and omissions of the respondent and as a direct proximate result thereof, the petitioner has suffered huge losses and damages," Loop Telecom said.