A petition has approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe Reliance KG Basin gas allegations involving the alleged unauthorized extraction of natural gas from an ONGC-operated block in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin. The petitioner has requested a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry and the registration of an FIR against Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), its directors, and other associated individuals.
Petition Seeks Criminal Investigation
Jitendra Punamchand Maru filed the Special Leave Petition titled Jitendra Maru v. CBI.
He has asked the Supreme Court to direct the CBI to register an FIR against RIL and others. The proposed offences include theft, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and dishonest misappropriation of property.
Challenge to Bombay High Court Judgment
The appeal challenges the Bombay High Court’s judgment dated March 27.
The High Court dismissed the petition after holding that it amounted to an abuse of the judicial process. It also found that the petition lacked genuine public interest and questioned the petitioner’s bona fides. According to the High Court, the litigation was filed with an improper motive.
Dispute Over Alleged Gas Migration
The dispute concerns the alleged migration of natural gas from ONGC’s KG Basin block to the adjacent KG-D6 block operated by RIL and its consortium partners.
The petitioner alleges that RIL extracted gas from ONGC’s reservoirs through directional drilling techniques. He relies on independent reports examining gas migration and refers to previous legal disputes between RIL and the Central government.
Maru argues that despite findings suggesting gas extraction from the neighbouring ONGC block, authorities have not initiated any criminal investigation.
CBI and RIL Opposed the Request
The petitioner first approached the CBI, seeking registration of an FIR. However, the agency closed the complaint in September 2025.
Before the Bombay High Court, the CBI argued that the dispute was essentially civil in nature. It also pointed out that neither ONGC nor the Union of India had sought a criminal investigation.
RIL denied all allegations. The company argued that the petition aimed to damage its reputation and attract media attention.
High Court Expresses Concern Over Delay
The Bombay High Court also noted that the petitioner waited for more than a decade before pursuing criminal proceedings.
The Court observed that launching criminal prosecution carries serious consequences for the accused. It also stated that such litigation can significantly affect a company’s commercial interests and public reputation.
Related Arbitration Continues
The dispute over gas migration has also led to commercial arbitration between the Union of India and RIL.
An arbitral tribunal ruled in RIL’s favour in July 2018. A Single Judge of the Delhi High Court upheld that award in May 2023. However, a Division Bench set aside the decision in February 2025.
RIL has challenged that ruling before the Supreme Court, where the appeal remains pending.
The latest petition seeking a CBI probe Reliance KG Basin gas allegations adds another legal dimension to the long-running dispute over gas migration in the KG Basin.
