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Vodafone Idea Shares Today: Vodafone Idea Ltd shares surged 9 per cent on September 19 after the Supreme Court postponed the hearing on the telecom company’s challenge to a fresh Rs 9,450-crore adjusted gross revenue (AGR) demand from the Centre. The government requested more time to respond, with the matter now scheduled for September 26, lifting investor sentiment.

At 12:15 pm, Vodafone Idea shares were trading at Rs 8.56 on NSE, following reports that the Supreme Court acknowledged the Centre’s substantial equity stake in the company and highlighted the need to protect consumer interests.

The fresh AGR demand stems from the Supreme Court’s March 18, 2020 order, which upheld AGR dues up to FY17 and barred reassessment by telecom operators. Despite this ruling, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) raised new claims for FY18 and FY19. Vodafone Idea argued that a significant portion of the demand overlaps with periods already settled by the Court.

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Currently, the Indian government holds a 48.99 per cent stake in Vodafone Idea, following conversion of Rs 53,083 crore of dues into equity in two tranches—February 2023 and April 2025. Of the Rs 9,450-crore fresh claim, Rs 2,774 crore is directed at Vodafone Idea and Idea Group (post-merger), while Rs 6,675 crore targets Vodafone Group for the pre-merger period.

With penalties, interest, and past dues, Vodafone Idea’s total liability to the government is estimated at nearly Rs 2 trillion. The telecom operator cautioned that the added burden could threaten its survival, affecting services for 198 million subscribers and the jobs of over 18,000 employees, along with thousands more indirectly dependent on the company.

Vodafone Idea has requested the Court to quash DoT’s new claims for periods already adjudicated and to reconcile AGR dues fully. The company also challenged DoT’s revised licence fee and spectrum usage charges, which could add roughly Rs 6,800 crore in liabilities as of March 2025 if upheld.

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Senior Sub-editor at Zee Business English

shweta.shukla@India.com

Shweta Birendra Shukla is a journalist covering the stock market and corporate affairs, with prior stints at Business ...LATEST NEWSBy accepting cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.