In a bid to rein in pesky calls and text messages, telecom regulator Trai has blacklisted 15 telemarketers and issued notices to 246 of them, while deducting Rs 1.36 crore security deposit for violations of various norms.

According to official data, 15 telemarketers have been blacklisted from September 27, 2011 -- when Trai issued guidelines on unsolicited commercial communications -- till June 25 this year.

The Telecom Authority of India has sent 246 notices and deducted Rs 1.36 crore from security deposit of telemarketers for violations during the period from September 27, 2011 to July 30, 2013.