The Hindu Business Line : No favours to RIL, oil ministry tells PMO

NEW DELHI: The oil ministry has informed the Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh that it was not favouring Mr Mukesh Ambani in his ongoing tussle with younger brother Mr Anil and it had moved Supreme Court only to protect its rights on natural gas.

Responding to queries raised by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on the basis of a letter to Mr Singh from Mr Anil Ambani, the petroleum ministry said in a communication that it has not shown any favouritism to Mukesh-led Reliance Industries.

Lawyers had advised that the only way out was to go to Supreme Court to protect sovereign rights on gas, given the Bombay High Court judgment that gave effect to the Ambani brothers' agreement on gas, the petroleum ministry reply said.

Mr Anil had written to the Prime Minister on July 15 seeking direction to the oil ministry to stop favouring Reliance Industries in a commercial dispute between them.

The oil ministry has filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court ruling of June 15 that asked RIL to supply gas to Anil group firm RNRL at a committed price of $2.34 per mmBtu and work out a suitable agreement for it.

The Government's SLP will be considered for admissibility by the apex court on September 1, the same day when the cross-appeals by the group firms of the two brothers is to come up for hearing. – PTI

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