Airtel move SC for AGR relief following Vodafone Idea’s plea

Bharti Airtel and Bharti Hexacom have filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking relief in the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues case, arguing that continued liability without waiver would imperil not only their operations but the telecom sector at large.

The move follows Vodafone Idea’s fresh plea seeking exemption from interest, penalties and interest on penalty dues.

In their petition, the Bharti companies said, “The AGR dues gravely impacted the ability of the two Bharti companies to meet the much-needed aggressive network rollout requirements… In the absence of a waiver, survivability of the Bharti Companies and the entire telecom sector would be jeopardised.”
The petition notes that a ₹9,235 crore principal liability has ballooned to ₹43,980 crore due to interest and penalties. As of March 31, 2025, the companies still owe ₹38,397 crore according to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Also read: Vodafone Idea warns of not being able to continue beyond FY26 without more govt help

Airtel also highlighted its substantial contribution to the public exchequer—₹75,000 crore in license fees and ₹22,000 crore in GST over a decade, according to an ET report. The group says relief must be granted on a non-discriminatory basis to all affected telecom licensees.

The Supreme Court is likely to hear Vodafone Idea’s petition on Monday.