The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) is likely to knock the doors of the Supreme Court against Anil Ambani's Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL) challenging the Bombay High Court's verdict over gas pricing issue, according to some unconfirmed reports. The development may further fuel the ongoing dispute between the Ambani brothers over the gas price issue.

It should be recalled that the Bombay High Court, in its verdict on June 15, had directed RIL to supply 28 million units of gas from Krishna-Godavari basin at $2.34/mmbtu to Anil Ambani's RNRL for 17 years. This price is about 44% lower than the government-approved rate for selling gas from the basin.

Meanwhile, Reliance Industries spokesperson said: "We have not completed the analysis of the implications of the judgment and the process of consultation of with legal advisers. We will decide upon further steps after competition of this process."

Sources said that the Union government is unlikely to accept a lower price of gas even if NTPC has to pay higher price for gas. The Oil Ministry is also believed to have written to the Union cabinet for $4.2 per unit as a benchmark price for RIL; which would be a loss-rendering affair, both for RIL and RNRL.