Plea before Supreme Court seeks CBI probe into alleged KG Basin gas extraction by Reliance

A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged unauthorized extraction of natural gas by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) from a block in the KG Basin operated by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The appeal, filed by Jitendra Punamchand Maru, challenges a March 27 judgment of the Bombay High Court that dismissed his petition as an abuse of the process of court. Maru alleges that RIL tapped gas from ONGC's wells through sideways drilling, resulting in the migration of gas to the adjoining KG-D6 block operated by RIL and its consortium partners.

The Supreme Court has been approached with a plea seeking a CBI probe into alleged unauthorized extraction of natural gas by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) from a block in the KG Basin. This development is significant as it highlights the ongoing dispute between ONGC and RIL concerning the migration of gas from ONGC's blocks to the adjoining KG-D6 block operated by RIL. The plea, filed by Jitendra Punamchand Maru, challenges the March 27 judgment of the Bombay High Court that dismissed his petition as an abuse of the process of court.

The dispute between ONGC and RIL concerns the alleged migration of gas from ONGC's blocks in the KG Basin to the adjoining KG-D6 block operated by RIL. Maru had alleged that RIL tapped gas from ONGC's wells through sideways drilling, resulting in the migration of gas to the KG-D6 block. This has led to allegations of theft, criminal breach of trust, dishonest misappropriation, and criminal conspiracy against RIL and its directors. The Union government has been involved in subsequent court proceedings between RIL and ONGC, with reports prepared to examine the migration of gas.

The outcome of this matter has not yet been reported, but the Supreme Court's consideration of this plea is significant as it highlights the ongoing dispute between ONGC and RIL concerning the migration of gas from ONGC's blocks to the adjoining KG-D6 block operated by RIL. The allegations against RIL and its directors raise questions about the accountability of companies operating in the energy sector.

The outcome of this matter will have far-reaching implications for the energy sector, highlighting the need for effective regulatory mechanisms to prevent unauthorized extraction of natural gas. Practitioners should be aware of this development and its potential consequences for companies operating in the energy sector.