In a major decision, the Bombay High Court, led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Suman Shyam, refused a request to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into Reliance Industries Limited(RIL)and its director Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani.

The allegation was that more than USD 1.55 billion worth of natural gas was taken from nearby fields belonging to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in the Krishna Godavari Basin off the coast of Andhra Pradesh.

The petition was filed by an Indian citizen, Jitendra P. Maru. He asked the court to direct the CBI and the Union of India to start an investigation and take action.

Background Claim:

According to the petition, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) allegedly carried out a “massive organized fraud” between 2004 and 2013–14. It claimed that RIL drilled sideways (horizontally) from its own offshore blocks into nearby fields of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and illegally took gas. ONGC staff found this in 2013 and informed Indian authorities.

RIL denied wrongdoing. It said the gas was “migratory,” meaning it could naturally move, and claimed it had the right to extract it. However, a study by consultants De Golyer and MacNaughton (D&M) confirmed that gas had been taken from ONGC’s area without permission. Later, the AP Shah Committee said the value of this gas was more than USD 1.55 billion, along with USD 174.9 million as interest.

RIL had earlier won an arbitration case against ONGC. But on February 14, 2025, a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court set aside that decision, saying it went against public policy.

Petitioner’s Demand:

The petitioner, Jitendra P. Maru, argued that the plan was controlled from Mumbai, so the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should investigate. He also asked for a criminal FIR to be filed against RIL, its directors, and others for offences like theft, misappropriation, and breach of trust. He further requested that important records—such as agreements, investigation reports, and AP Shah Committee documents—be seized to take action against everyone involved.

Case Details: Jitendra Maru v. Central Bureau of Investigation & Ors.