another RIL scam of epic proportions

On March 19, 2003, Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure Ltd (RGTIL) was formed as a subsidiary of Reliance Industries for transportation of gas extracted from RIL's gas fields in KG Basin. On August 18, 2004, RGTIL while it was still a 100 % subsidiary of RIL was granted approval by the petroleum ministry to transport 80 million units of gas per day from Kakinada to Bharuch, passing through four states - AP, Karanataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

On April 21, RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani quietly without any disclosure stripped RGTIL from RIL and converted it into his personal property at a meagre price of just Rs 5 lakhs. Through a maze of private companies owned by Mukesh Ambani namely Lordwest Invest & Trading, Shangrila Invest & Trading, Proline Invest, Jigna Fiscal, Vayudoot Invest & Trading, Yashasvi Holding and Anumati Mercantile, he now controlled 100 per cent of what was till then a 100 % subsidiary of RIL. It was a classic manoeuvre.

All the above companies have Reliance employees as directors. Their registered office addresses are also the same as the other companies (promoters and persons acting in concert of RIL). The registered office address of these individuals are 84A Mittal Court, 505 Dalamal House, 147 Atlanta; all known Reliance Group offices in Mumbai's Nariman Point area.

This year, the Union Budget presented in July inserted a new section 35D in the Income Tax Act, 1961 which allows 100 % of capital expenditure incurred on setting up and operating natural gas or crude oil pipeline network as 100 % tax deduction in the very first year. Capital expenditure is never allowed as revenue expenditure in the first year. The beneficiary of this scam is none other than Mukesh Ambani who has once again twisted the law to suit himself. Sum total accruing to Mukesh Ambani is Rs 20,000 crore.