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ShareNew Delhi: The Anil Ambani's Reliance Natural Resources' (RNRL) on Thursday accused the government of being a party to the "conspiracy" with Mukesh Ambani firm Reliance Industries (RIL) to "destroy" it, but dropped its opposition to the petroleum ministry putting its stand before the Supreme Court.
RNRL counsel Ram Jethmalani challenged the contention of Mukesh Ambani's RIL and the government that the Ambani family deal for supply and pricing of the gas from the K G Basin has to be approved by the government and that RNRL would make profits by selling gas in the open market.
"Any suitable arrangement can't be subject to the approval of price by the government," the former law minister said. "How can there be an arrangement for the supply of gas to me (RNRL) involving government with which I am totally dissatisfied? There can't be a suitable arrangement involving the government," Jethmalani said.
A bench of Chief justice K G Balalrishnan, Justices B Sudershan Reddy and P Sathasivam has been hearing appeals and cross appeals involving RIL, RNRL, NTPC, and Union government since October 20 last.
However, Jethmalani, who had stoutly opposed government being made a party to the dispute, consented subject to the condition that RNRL should have the right to inspections of documents and cross-examination of petroleum ministry officials. This submission was shot down by the Bench which said that RNRL can raise its objections through affidavits.
Jethmalani described the gas row between the Ambani brothers as a case where government has kept the public interest at the farthest and huge wealth has been put in the private pockets.
"Money has passed between two private hands," Jethmalani alleged without naming the beneficiaries. "We are struggling with the elder brother to get 0.1% of wealth and at every stage the government is a party to the conspiracy to frustrate the younger brother," Jethmalani said.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Gopal Subrmaniam appeared sought to repel the perception that the government has jettisoned NTPC's interest in the legal battle with RIL before the Bombay High Court. "The government has clarified that it has not jettisoned the interest of NTPC. The NTPC suit in the Bombay High Court, seeking supply of gas at $2.34 per unit, should not be prejudiced in any manner," he added.
To this, RIL counsel Harish Salve said, if NTPC proved it has a concluded contract for the gas supply, "I (RIL) am bound to supply the gas at whatever price". Jethmalani also said the high gas price for NTPC was due to the government acting in fraudulent manner, vis-a-vis the international bidding floated by the PSU.
