Archive · 14 Nov 2025
Reliance Industries Faces Probe Over Alleged $1.55 Billion ONGC Gas Theft
Imagine two neighbors, ONGC and Reliance, have underground gas fields right next to each other.
Someone has claimed that Reliance drilled from their property into ONGC's gas field and took a lot of gas, like stealing from their neighbor.
This claim is that it was worth over $1.55 billion and happened for many years.
A big court has told Reliance and the government to look into this.
Reliance says they didn't steal gas because it naturally moves between fields, so it was okay for them to take it.
They also say this is an old disagreement.
The court is asking the police if they need to investigate this more deeply, like filing official charges.
The court's notice doesn't mean Reliance is guilty, but it's a step to decide if a full investigation is needed.
The Bombay High Court has issued a notice to Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and its directors concerning a petition alleging the illegal extraction of natural gas from ONGC wells.
The petition claims RIL 'stole' natural gas from ONGC's fields in the KG Basin between 2004 and 2013-14, with the alleged theft valued at over $1.55 billion.
Accusations against RIL include theft, fraud, and criminal breach of trust, with the petitioner seeking a CBI investigation and the filing of an FIR.
RIL defends its actions by stating the gas was 'migratory,' naturally crossing block boundaries, and argues this is part of an older civil dispute.
The court has asked the CBI and Union government to respond by November 11 on whether a full CBI probe and FIR are necessary in this matter.
- Who
- Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), its directors including Mukesh Ambani, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Union government
- What
- Bombay High Court issued a notice to Reliance Industries regarding a petition alleging illegal extraction of natural gas from ONGC wells, potentially amounting to theft and fraud.
- When
- The alleged extraction occurred between 2004 and 2013-14; the Bombay High Court issued a notice on a petition seeking CBI investigation and asked the CBI and Union government to respond by November 11.
- Where
- Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin, off the coast of Andhra Pradesh
- Why
- A petition alleges that RIL illegally extracted natural gas belonging to ONGC's fields, leading to accusations of theft, fraud, and criminal breach of trust, and prompting a request for a CBI probe.
Petitioner's Allegations
Reliance Industries' Stance
Gas Extraction
Petitioner's Allegations
Reliance Industries allegedly drilled into ONGC's northern fields in the KG Basin between 2004 and 2013-14, illegally extracting natural gas worth over $1.55 billion.
Reliance Industries' Stance
Reliance Industries maintains that the extracted gas was 'migratory,' naturally crossing block boundaries, and that their extraction was legal.
Nature of Dispute
Petitioner's Allegations
The petition accuses Reliance Industries of theft, fraud, and criminal breach of trust, seeking a CBI investigation and the filing of an FIR.
Reliance Industries' Stance
Reliance Industries states that this issue is part of an older civil-arbitral dispute and not a new controversy.
- Alleged Theft Value
- $1.55 billion
- Accrued Interest
- $174.9 million
- Time Period of Alleged Theft
- 2004-2013-14
- Basin
- Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin
- Investigating Body Notified
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
- Court Issuing Notice
- Bombay High Court
- Consulting Company
- DeGolyer and MacNaughton (D&M)
