Mukesh Ambani meets Cabinet minister, top officials in Delhi

Ahead of his company's formal discussions with Anil Ambani group company RNRL, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) head Mukesh Ambani today met top government officials and a Cabinet minister.

His meeting comes within a fortnight of the Supreme Court verdict on the gas row between the two sides. The elder Ambani met the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary T K A Nair and Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium.

An RIL spokesperson declined to give any comment on the purpose and deliberation of the meetings.

Incidentally, Anil Ambani had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and other government officials last week.

The Supreme Court had on May 7 rejected RNRL’s claim for cheap gas from RIL as had been decided in a private family agreement of 2005. The apex court had directed the two companies to rework their gas supply pact, keeping the government's pricing and utilisation policy in mind.

RIL and RNRL are likely to meet formally next week for renegotiations on the family pact that provided for Anil Ambani firm getting 28 million cubic metres per day of gas for 17 years.

The RIL spokesperson also declined comment on reports that informal discussions between RIL and Anil Ambani group have started. Two sides are also believed to be seeking guidance from the Central officials as the apex court had directed renegotiation within the frame work of government policy.