RELIANCE EXEC QUESTIONED

The AAP government’s anti-corruption unit Tuesday quizzed a Reliance industries manager in connection with an FIR into alleged illegalities in gas pricing, filed during its first stint in power.

The Delhi government’s anti corruption branch (ACB) on Tuesday questioned a senior Reliance Industries manager in connection with a corruption case filed last year.

The FIR was registered on allegations of illegalities in gas pricing by the previous AAP government.

A RIL spokesperson refused to comment on the investigation.

Sources said on Tuesday afternoon, TSL Reddy, general manager of Reliance Industries Limited reached the ACB headquarters at Civil Lines in north Delhi and joined investigation. Last week, the anti-graft unit, started their investigation more than a year after the case was registered after summoning RIL CEO PMS Prasad. Prasad’s lawyers is learnt to have told the investigating officer that he is out of the country and would send Reddy to assist the anti-graft body in their investigation.

Till late Tuesday evening, the RIL employee was being questioned by senior ACB officers. Anti-corruption branch chief SS Yadav also refused to comment on the case developments.

The investigating officer had also summoned Larry Fisher, the vice-president and country manager of Niko Resources Limited, who is said to be another beneficiary. Sources said Fisher told the investigating officer that he would apply for a visa and then come to the country to join investigation.

The case was registered last year during the 49-day tenure of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in early 2014. The FIR which was filed on February 12, had named RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani, former petroleum ministers Veerappa Moily and Murli Deora among others. It was alleged that the ministers and company officials colluded to hike prices of natural gas from the KG basin to make windfall gains.

Sources said the anti- graft body will summon all the others who have been named in the FIR.