Vodafone Idea share falls 6% today:Stocks plummet after Supreme Court postpones AGR case hearing till Oct 6

Vodafone-Idea shares fell 6% on Friday, September 26, 2025, after the Supreme Court postponed the hearing on the company’s AGR case till October 6. VI shares are currently trading at around ₹8.15, down 6%. However, the stock is up by 23% in a month, 17% in 6 months, and 20% in a year. The company’s current market cap is ₹89,017 crore. VI shares rises 23% in a month Note – VI share price as of 12:40 PM on September 26. The government sought time to respond to the matter On September 19, SC postponed the hearing on the company’s petition against the new Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) demand of ₹9,450 crore raised by the Centre to September 26. The government sought more time to respond to this matter. ‘A solution should be found with SC’s approval’ Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that since the government now holds a 48.99% stake in Vodafone Idea, it is necessary to find a solution that protects the interests of the customers. Tushar Mehta requested the court to list the matter for hearing again on September 26. Mehta said, “We are not opposing Vodafone Idea’s petition. The government is also a stakeholder in the company, so a solution should be found with the Supreme Court’s approval.” What is the whole issue related to AGR dues? The dispute is related to the SC’s March 18, 2020, decision in which the Telecom Department (DoT) justified the AGR dues up to FY17 and operators were prohibited from any reassessment. Despite this, DoT raised new demands for FY18 and FY19. In its petition on Sept 8, Vodafone Idea stated that a large portion of the new demand of ₹9,450 crore is related to the period settled in the 2020 decision. The company requested the court to dismiss these demands and fully account for the AGR dues. How much Does Vodafone Idea owe? Of the new demand, ₹2,774 crore is against the Idea Group and Vodafone Idea (post-merger), while ₹6,675 crore is for the Vodafone Group, related to the period before the merger. The company is already burdened with an AGR liability of ₹83,400 crore, for which it has to pay an installment of ₹18,000 crore, including penalties and interest, every year from March. The company owes the government about ₹2 lakh crore. The company’s argument on AGR dues Vodafone Idea on fresh AGR demand Vodafone Idea has stated that the new demand of ₹5,606 crore pertains to periods up to FY17, which were already settled under the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling. The company argued that the Telecom Department’s calculations contain errors and maintained that it bears no liability beyond the interest on the already determined dues of ₹58,254 crore. According to the company, this additional demand threatens its very survival, potentially impacting services to 198 million customers, the livelihoods of over 18,000 direct employees, and thousands more who depend on the company indirectly. Telecom Department’s stand On August 13, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) clarified that the updated license fees till FY19 were not part of the Supreme Court’s September 1, 2020 order. The department recalculated dues with penalties and interest up to October 2019 and extended the liability further at 8% annual interest through March 2025. However, on August 28, Vodafone Idea disputed this recalculation, citing errors in DoT’s assessment for FY18 and FY19. What’s next in the AGR case? The matter is scheduled for the next court hearing on October 6. Both Vodafone Idea and the government are hopeful of arriving at a solution that secures relief for the company while safeguarding consumer interests. The outcome is expected to be decisive not only for Vodafone Idea’s future but also for the wider telecom sector and millions of subscribers.