Mulayam objects to RIL director's appointment in govt panel

Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav has objected to the alleged appointment of D V Kapur, a director on the board of Reliance Industries Ltd, in the advisory committee of the Ministry of Power.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 27, Yadav said that this appointment was against the interest of the power sector and raised “serious issues of conflict of interest”.

“It may kindly be noted that D V Kapur has been working with Reliance Industries on various assignments including the current one wherein he has been enjoying various largesse and perks from Reliance Industries, including a chauffeur-driven car and a rent for his own posh residence provided by the company,” the letter states.

The Ministry of Power had set up an advisory group under the chairmanship of Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for faster completion of ongoing power projects. Besides Kapur, former power secretaries P Abraham, RV Shahi and Anil Razdan are among its members.

Yadav has also used the letter to express his “dismay” over Kapur representing RIL in the company’s negotiations with state-run NTPC Ltd for supply of gas to its Kawas and Gandhar expansion projects in Gujarat.