Vodafone Idea seeks further relief on AGR dues in SC plea

Vodafone Idea, which owes ₹83,400 crore in AGR dues, had sought a ₹45,000 crore waiver

- Jatin Grover & Devina Sengupta

DoT had calculated Vodafone Idea's total dues at ₹58,254 crore

(MINT)

Vodafone Idea has filed an amended petition with the Supreme Court, seeking a waiver of penalties and interest on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, arguing that the disputed components of the dues have yet to be finalised. The petition, dated 18 September and reviewed by Mint, claims the telecom operator has paid all undisputed AGR dues on a self-assessment basis.

"The Hon'ble Supreme Court for the first time directed inclusion of the disputed heads for the computation of AGR. Hence, till date, it cannot be said that there was any default in payment requiring imposition of penalty," Vodafone Idea said in the petition.

According to the amended petition, both DoT and the company agree that the amounts need to be reconciled, corrected, and finalised. "Till the principal amount payable is not crystallized and finalized, it cannot be said that the petitioner is in default requiring payment of penalty," the telecom operator said in the petition.