Shares of Reliance Industries Ltd. on Tuesday fell by over 2 per cent after the Delhi Government ordered filing of criminal cases against its chief Mukesh Ambani and others, following complaints of irregularities in pricing of natural gas in KG basin.
After falling 2.26 per cent to Rs. 803 in intra-day trade, RIL’s scrip finally ended at Rs. 805.50, down 1.96 per cent on the BSE.
At the NSE, the scrip closed 2.21 per cent lower at Rs. 803.75.
ADVERTISEMENT
Delhi Government on Tuesday ordered filing of criminal cases against Union Minister Veerappa Moily, former minister Murli Deora, Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani and others following complaints of irregularities in pricing of natural gas in KG basin.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi Government has been asked to probe the matter based on a complaint filed by former Cabinet Secretary T.S.R. Subrmanian, Admiral Tahiliani, former Navy Chief and eminent lawyer Kamini Jaiswal besides a former Expenditure Secretary.
“Today we have asked the ACB to probe the case. We are filing a criminal case against Murli Deora. FIRs are being filed against Moily, Mukesh Ambani former DG of Hydrocarbons V.K. Sibal, Reliance Industries Ltd. and others,” he said addressing a press conference in New Delhi.
ADVERTISEMENT
Without explaining whether Delhi Government has jurisdiction to probe the case, Mr. Kejriwal alleged that Reliance Industries Ltd. was benefited as Oil Ministry decided to hike the natural gas price to $8 per million British thermal unit as against current $4.2 from April 1.
He alleged that RIL did not produce adequate gas from eastern offshore KG basin block so as to put pressure on the government to hike the price.
Reliance Industries Ltd. declined to comment.
Fall in the bellwether stock was the biggest dampener for the broader market that closed on a flat note, with the benchmark Sensex ending at 20,363.37, up 29.10 points.