US magazine editor accuses ADAG of trying to censor coverage

An editor of a US-based industry publication today alleged that Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Natural Resources (RNRL) was employing "legal tactics" to pressurise him to retract a fact-based analysis on the Ambani brothers' gas dispute.

RNRL had accused him of "cleverly and mischievously" formulating the report to "disturb and create prejudice in the judicial judgement" expected this month from India's Supreme Court, Energy Tribune editor Michael Economides said in a statement.

He said he had received a legal notice from ADAG shortly after he published an analysis, "Navigating the Ambani Dispute: Securing India's Energy Future" and alleged that this was an attempt to "censor the critical points" in the report.

ADAG spokesperson declined to comment immediately on queries related to the issue raised by Economides on the legal notice.

The article had said the current dispute over natural gas rights may negatively impact India's energy industry, future exploration and ability to attract foreign direct investments.

"The Indian people deserve to hear a broad range of opinion and exposure to data from all sides concerning this dispute over natural gas," Economides said. "These legal threats are nothing more than an attempt to divert attention away from an open and honest debate over the future of India's economic development and energy security."

RNRL is seeking natural gas from Reliance Industries (RIL) at prices arrived in 2005 family agreement and the matter is listed for hearing in Supreme Court on October 20.

The statement said Economides, in his report, made the case that the Indian government needs to ensure a price that accounts for the true cost of production and development prevails, enabling the country's growing energy market to attract investors and develop over the long-term.

In a point-by-point rebutal, he said accusation of him committing libel against Anil Ambani was "an attempt to silence nothing more than a different, substantiated point-of-view".

His report claims a settlement of the case would open up much-needed abundant and affordable energy and, therefore, the government has a moral responsibility to intervene. "The real calculated attempt to sway the opinion of the Indian Supreme Court is Anil's attempt to stifle an open and transparent debate."

To the observation in the legal notice that "no part of the dispute...In any way affects the interests of the nation or the energy security of India," he said: "This statement lacks validity considering this dispute may prevent the exploration and production of energy resources that will not only generate sizable wealth for the nation, but also make India less reliant on foreign imports".