Bombay High Court dismisses plea seeking CBI probe into alleged gas extraction by Reliance Industries
The Facts
- The Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking a CBI probe into allegations against Reliance Industries Ltd and Mukesh Ambani over natural gas extraction from ONGC fields.
- The bench that heard the matter comprised Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Suman Shyam.
- The petition was filed by Jitendra Maru, described in reports as a resident of Silvassa.
- The plea sought registration of an FIR and a CBI investigation over alleged offences including theft, dishonesty, misappropriation, and criminal breach of trust.
- Reports said the allegations concerned gas extraction from ONGC's Krishna-Godavari basin fields off the coast of Andhra Pradesh.
- Several reports said Maru alleged that Reliance Industries engaged in a 'massive organized fraud' by drilling in a way that allowed gas to be extracted from adjacent ONGC wells.
- Multiple reports said the court described the petition as lacking merit, motivated by oblique considerations, or an abuse of the court's process.
Context
What exactly did the petitioner ask the court to do?
The petitioner sought a direction for the CBI to register an FIR and investigate Reliance Industries and its officials over alleged unlawful gas extraction from ONGC fields mint,Hindustan Times,Financial Express,ETV Bharat News.
What was the alleged basis of the complaint?
Reports say Maru alleged that Reliance extracted gas from ONGC's Krishna-Godavari basin wells and described the conduct as a 'massive organized fraud' mint,Financial Express,mid-day,United News of India.
Did the court order any criminal investigation?
No. The court dismissed the plea and did not direct the CBI to register a case or begin an investigation mint,Hindustan Times,Hindu,Business Standard,NewsBytes.
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