HC refuses to pass order on row over RIL work in KG Basin

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) today got a breather in the controversy relating to allegation of inflating the expenditure for exploration of gas in KG basin with Delhi High Court refusing to pass any order saying the matter is before the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC).

A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice AK Sikri, however, gave liberty to the petitioner to approach the PAC for the redressal of his grievances.

It also clarified that after the publication of the PAC report, if there was any grievances of the petitioner, he can move the High Court again.

The direction of the bench came after Additional Solicitor General AS Chandioke said the court should desist from entertaining the petition as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, which is the basis of the present plea, was being looked into by the PAC.

Opposing the plea, senior counsel AM Singhvi, appearing for RIL, said the issue raised in the petition was 'pre-mature'as the CAG report is before the parliamentary committee for its review.

Pressing for his plea, the petitioner said government has given unwarranted extension for the exploration in Krishna-Godavari basin and the CAG has held that there was no justification on record for the same.

A Delhi-based journalist Md Furquan had on September 30 approached the court seeking cancellation of the licence granted to RIL for exploration of gas in Krishna-Godavari Basin on the ground that the JV betwen RIL and Canada-based NIKO allegedly cheated the government by inflating the expenditure in connivance with a top official.