Vodafone Group has been granted permission to challenge a tax claim by the Indian government over the UK mobile phone group’s $10.7bn purchase of a stake in Hutchison Essar.

The UK group bought a 52 per cent stake in the Indian company in May, which is now called Vodafone Essar. Mumbai-based Essar Group owns 33 per cent, with Asim Ghosh, Vodafone Essar managing director, and Indian businessman Analjit Singh owning the remaining 15 per cent.