Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal vs Mukesh Ambani: billionaire not mentioned in FIR on gas prices

New Delhi –  A day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ordered a criminal case to be filed against Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and Veerappa Moily over gas pricing, the FIR does not mention either.

An FIR is the first step in the filing of formal charges and obliges the police to begin an investigation.  Mr Kejriwal has said the case will be handled by Delhi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, which reports to the state government. The FIR registered today references the complaint that both Law Minister and Mr Ambani are colluding to inflate the prices of gas produced from the D-6 block off the Eastern Coast which is operated by Reliance.

Mr Kejriwal’s industrial-strength move against Mr Ambani, the country’s richest man, is based on the plummeting output from the D-6 block.  Mr Kejriwal said Reliance had created an artificial shortage to “blackmail” the government to set higher prices.

The centre in December cleared a price hike starting April 1 which is expected to result in prices that are double the current level. Mr Kejriwal has asked the Prime Minister to suspend the order to raise gas prices till the issue is resolved.

In a statement last night, Reliance called Mr Kejriwal’s allegations “shocking” and said it could take legal action in response.

Reliance has long maintained geological complexities have pushed production lower for the D6 block, but the oil regulator believes the company failed to drill enough wells.