A DEAL IN QUESTION

The Delhi High Court issued notices to the Union government, Reliance India Limited (RIL), US-based Enron and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on a public interest litigation challenging the awarding of the controversial Mukta-Panna oil contract to RIL-Enron joint venture. The petition claimed that the statement of B N Safaya, the private secretary of the then petroleum minister, Satish Sharma (under whose tenure the deal was struck) - that RIL paid a "bribe" to the minister for getting the deal in their favour - was sufficient evidence to initiate a criminal enquiry in the matter.