GST Body Imposes ₹2 Crore Fine on Airtel; Telecom Giant Plans to Contest Order

By: Admin
Date: December 30, 2024
Categories: GST Recent News
Reading Time: 4 Minutes

The Indian telecom sector is witnessing a standoff between Bharti Airtel, the country’s second-largest telecom operator, and the GST authorities. On Friday, the Delhi South Commissionerate of the Central GST department imposed a ₹2.11 crore penalty on Airtel under the CGST Act, 2017.

Allegations of Irregular Input Tax Credit

The penalty pertains to alleged irregularities in input tax credit claimed by Airtel for the financial years 2017-18 to 2020-21.

Airtel’s Response

In a regulatory announcement issued on Saturday, Airtel stated:

It “does not agree” with the penalty order.

The company will take “appropriate actions” to challenge the order.

The penalty will have no significant impact on Airtel’s financials, operations, or other activities.

This latest development highlights the growing scrutiny of tax compliance in India’s telecom sector. Stay tuned for updates on Airtel’s next steps and the potential implications for the industry.