Vodafone Idea moves SC against DoT's new ₹9,450 cr demand

Firm asks SC to quash demand, says apex court had earlier finalized its AGR dues till 2016-17

- Jatin Grover & Devina Sengupta

Vodafone Idea Ltd has filed a fresh writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging an additional demand of ₹9,450 crore by the Union government towards adjusted gross revenue dues.

The Supreme Court had on 18 March 2020 locked Vodafone Idea's AGR dues till 2016-17 based on calculations by the department of telecommunications (DoT), adding that no self-assessment or re-assessment of the dues would be permitted.

But DoT has now sought additional payments for up to 2018-19, Vodafone Idea said in its petition dated 8 September, which Mint has seen.

Of the ₹9,450 crore, the additional demand raised by DoT from Idea Group and Vodafone Idea (post merger in August 2018) was at ₹2,774 crore, while the demand against Vodafone Group (pre-merger) was ₹6,675 crore, according to the petition.