No CBI request for probing charges against oil regulator

New Delhi, Nov 4: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has not sought the petroleum ministry's permission to investigate allegations of corruption against oil regulator V.K. Sibal, according to Petroleum Secretary R.S. Pandey.

"So far, a formal request from the CBI for granting permission has not come to the ministry," Pandey said at the annual Economic Editors' Conference here Wednesday.

"If allegations are criminal in nature, then CBI gets the jurisdiction and it is free to investigate to the extent it's concerned. The investigation can run concurrently (with that of the Central Vigilance Commission)," Pandey added.

Director General of Hydrocarbons Sibal had come under a cloud after allegations of a bias in favour of the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries in the various approvals given regarding the natural gas fields in the Krishna-Godavari basin.

He was up for extension, but his case is being examined by the Central Vigilance Commission. The commission has also asked the CBI to look into the matter.

Sibal came under spotlight after the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Natural Resources accused him of unfairly approving a huge hike in the capital expenditure on Krishna-Godavari basin even though the estimate on output was only doubled from 40 million units a day.

Sibal has, however, denied any wrongdoing on his part or that he had accepted any undue favour as alleged by the Anil Ambani Group, such as a stay for his daughters at the premises in Mumbai owned by the associates of Reliance Industries.

"My reply is published in the newspapers. This is all of 2005 when my daughter went missing for two days during the Mumbai floods. If it was all a favour, then why did we pay Rs.300,000? I have got a copy of the cheque," Sibal had told IANS earlier.