Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) has reportedly once again approached the Supreme Court, contesting the government’s move to levy an additional Rs 94.50 billion in adjusted gross revenue (AGR)-related dues until 2018-19. The next instalment of AGR dues, including this additional demand, is scheduled for payment by March 31, 2026.
The telco argued that the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) demand contradicts earlier rulings by the apex court, which had finalised dues up to 2016-17 and barred any reassessment. Vi pointed out that the court’s judgments of July 20, 2020, and September 1, 2020, had crystallised all liabilities until 2016-17, prohibiting further revision.
Despite this, the DoT has raised fresh claims, stating that these amounts are over and above the dues already finalised. Of the Rs 94.50 billion demand, Vi highlighted that Rs 56.06 billion (as of March 31, 2025) relates to the period up to 2016-17, which has already been settled by the court. If additional spectrum usage charge (SUC) dues for the same period are included, the amount rises to nearly Rs 68 billion. The new demand pertains primarily to licence fee dues.
Vi also noted that the DoT’s demand notice mentioned the amount was subject to further revisions following departmental assessments, CAG audits, special audits, or court cases, along with potential interest, penalties, and additional charges. The company argued that DoT cannot impose fresh demands for the period already crystallised without first correcting clerical or arithmetical errors in existing calculations, which Vi claims include instances of double counting.
