United Spirits' ₹443 crore water charge demands set aside by Bombay High Court

Diageo-controlled liquor maker United Spirits Limited on Wednesday (October 1) said the Bombay High Court has set aside water charge demands of ₹443 crore raised by the Water Resources Department, Maharashtra, to date.

The order, pronounced on September 26, 2025, also directs the Water Resources Department to reassess and bifurcate water charges for raw material and process usage within three months and issue reconciled bills from November 2018 onwards.

The court has asked United Spirits to submit

an interim deposit of ₹66.50 crore, which will be adjusted against the reconciled water bills. The company stated it is currently evaluating the next course of action.

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United Spirits noted that, based on its risk assessment, it expects no material financial impact from the ruling, as it believes it has a strong case on the merits. The litigation involves multiple parties, including the State of Maharashtra, Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA), and various officials of the WRD.

This follows prior stock exchange disclosures dated August 14, 2023, and May 21, 2024. The company informed exchanges after completing an internal assessment of the judgment and its implications.

Shares of United Spirits Ltd ended at ₹1,346.65, up by ₹19.60, or 1.48%, on the BSE.

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