CAG report on KG-D6: SC asks RIL, others to reply in four weeks

A bench led by Justice TS Thakur posted the matter for hearing on May 5 when it would decide the time likely to be given to each party in the matter to put forward their arguments. The court would then examine the RIL’s response to the CAG report that had sought dis-allowance of $357.16 million (about Rs 2,179 crore) expenditure RIL had incurred on drilling of wells and payments to contractors in KG-D6.

The order was passed during a brief hearing of petitions filed in 2013 by senior CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta and NGO Common Cause, challenging the erstwhile UPA government’s decision to double the price of natural gas from $4.2 to $8.4 per mmbtu and seeking cancellation of RIL’s contract for exploration of oil and gas from the KG basin.

The third PIL on the issue has been filed by advocate ML Sharma.