The Department of Telecommunications would hold Bharti Airtel liable for some Videocon Telecommunications and Aircel’s pending adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues to the government, reported Economic Times.

Bharti Airtel had bought some spectrum from the two bankrupt carriers back in 2017.

The Sunil Bharti-led telco already owes the government around Rs 216 billion in license fee dues and around Rs 139 billion in additional spectrum usage charges.

According to the newspaper report, the DoT is looking into the spectrum trading deal between Bharti Airtel and Videocon Telecommunications and dues that need to be paid.

Videocon Telecommunications, which is in the midst of insolvency proceedings, owes about Rs 1,298 crore in licence fee, spectrum usage charge (SUC), interest and penalties to the government, the report quoted a source.

In the case of Aircel, which is also undergoing insolvency proceedings, Airtel is expected to be made liable for a ‘small part’ of Aircel’s nearly Rs 10,230 crore dues, the Economic Times quoted another industry official.

First Published:Dec 13, 2019 11:35 AM IST