Delhi HC sets aside trial court order prosecuting Reliance Industries Ltd

Three of its senior officials were charged for allegedly possessing secret documents pertaining to cabinet meetings on economic matters.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Thursday set aside a trial court order allowing criminal prosecution of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and it's then three senior officials for allegedly possessing secret documents pertaining to cabinet meetings on economic matters.

Justice Sunil Gaur's decision came on the appeals by RIL and it's then Group President V Balasubramanian, Vice President A N Sethuraman, and General Manager (corporate affairs) Shankar Adawal against the trial court order.

The trial court order was passed 14 years after the FIR was lodged in 1998.

It had said that a prima facie case was made out against RIL and the officials under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

The case relates to the recovery of four secret documents pertaining to government policies on subjects of interest to Reliance Industries Ltd from the company's office here.