The Squabbling Siblings

The latest spat between Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani, who control India's Reliance group of industries, could turn out to be the most unsavory yet and hinder efforts to solve the country's chronic energy shortage.

This week, Anil Ambani, the 50-year-old younger brother, described the government as "partisan and biased" towards his elder brother, Mukesh.

At the heart of the latest battle between the siblings is the natural gas that was discovered by Reliance Industries in the Krishna Godavari basin off India's eastern coast in 2002, three years before the brothers parted ways.

The Reliance empire was divided between the two brothers in 2005 after a bitter seven-month feud.

In a family pact vetted and supervised by the brothers' mother in 2005, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) was to supply 28 million cubic meters of gas a day at $2.34 per million units to Anil Ambani's Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) for 17 years.

This price was lower than $4.20 per million units set by the government in 2006 for all buyers of gas from the basin.

Anil Ambani has not accepted the higher selling price set by the government, citing the agreement with his elder brother.

On 15 June, his company won a case in the Bombay High Court, asking his elder brother's company to honour the family agreement.

Mukesh Ambani has appealed against the judgment in the Supreme Court - the court will hear the dispute on 1 September.

India's oil ministry has also become embroiled in the controversy - federal oil minister Murli Deora has been criticised by Anil Ambani for allegedly siding with his elder brother.In return, Mr Deora has said gas is a national property and belongs to the people of India - "It really doesn't belong to them [Mukesh and Anil Ambani]," he told reporters.

The dispute is impeding efforts by the government to harness India's natural gas reserves to help tide over its energy crunch.

Though these Ambanis are allegedly the incorporators of the deadly disease of corruption in Indian society, Hope their spat gets resolved soon at least for the interest of the country.