Debt-ridden telecom firms have paid part of the Rs 1.47 lakh crore they owe to the government as the Reserve Bank expressed concern today about the possibility of their defaulting on bank loans. Bharti Airtel made a payment of Rs 10,000 crore today. Vodafone Idea and Tata Group have already paid their share. The telecom companies -- which have been struggling with huge losses -- paid up after the Supreme Court warned that their bosses could be accused of contempt and ordered them to appear in court today. In a hearing last week, the court had ripped into the firms and the government over the dues remaining unpaid despite its order. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said she would get in touch with the telecom department and find out what position it wants to take on the arrears.
