Vodafone Idea moves SC to quash DoT’s additional AGR demand

Vodafone Idea Ltd. has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking to set aside the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) additional adjusted gross revenue (AGR) demands for the period up to 2016-17, arguing they violate the apex court’s 2020 ruling that had crystallised all AGR liabilities.

The telco said DoT has raised excess demands of over ₹59.60 billion, despite the court rejecting any reconciliation or reassessment of dues in its 2020 verdict. Vodafone Idea termed the fresh demands “unfair and arbitrary,” alleging double counting and denial of permissible deductions.
 

DoT, in a letter issued in August, pegged outstanding licence fees till 2018-19 at ₹94.50 billion, of which ₹56.06 billion relates to the period already settled by the court. Including spectrum usage charges, the additional dues for 2016-17 alone climb to about ₹68 billion, Vodafone Idea said.

In 2019, the Supreme Court had upheld the government’s position and levied ₹1.47 trillion in AGR dues on telcos including Bharti Airtel, Bharti Hexacom, and Vodafone Idea. The court later allowed a 10-year repayment plan, with 10% to be paid upfront, and barred any revaluation of dues. In May this year, the court dismissed petitions from Airtel, Hexacom, and Vodafone Idea seeking waivers on interest and penalties, calling them “misconceived.”