Reliance Industries is one of the largest private sector company in India. From rags to riches, its founder Dhirubhai Ambani built it single-handedly with a vision to own the entire chain of production-from raw materials to finished goods. The Group's current activities span Exploration and Production (E&P) of oil and gas, refining and marketing, petrochemicals, textiles, financial services and insurance, power and telecom initiatives. The Group exports its products to more than 100 countries all over the world. After the death of the great business icon, Dhirubhai Ambani in July 2002, differences began to crop up between the two brothers, Anil and Mukesh. Anil Ambani accused Mukesh Ambani and his aides for lack of corporate governance, unfair transfer of funds from RIL to Reliance Infocomm, illegal re-routing of international calls and quietly appropriating all powers in RIL. Mukesh Ambani, with the help of his aides, denied all allegations and sidelined his brother. Feuds continued publicly till November 2004, when Mukesh Ambani declared ownership issues and the battle took a new turn with both the brothers deciding to split the empire. The finale came on June 19, 2005, when an amicable settlement was reached with the help of their mother Kokilaben Ambani, wife of Dhirubhai Ambani.

According to the settlement, Mukesh Ambani will retain the ownership of RIL and IPCL, which together account for 90% of the Group's revenues; while Anil Ambani has to manage Reliance Infocomm, Reliance Capital and Reliance Energy. It's a wait for the future to see which Ambani surpasses the other. This case traces the history of one of the biggest companies India has ever had and the origin of the feud after the death of Dhirubhai Ambani. This case also ends with an overview of what may be the impact of the division of Reliance Industries on the Indian industrial sector. "Our dreams have to be bigger. Our ambitions higher. Our commitment deeper. And our efforts greater. This is my dream for Reliance and for IndiaThe organizational architecture is really that a centipede walks on hundred legs and one or two don't count. So if I lose one or two legs, the process will go on, the organization will go on, the growth will go on.For us-for me especially-this is a new beginning," he said. "This is a car without a reverse gear; we are only going forward.

June 19, 2005: The early dawn brought with it rays of hope, peace and tranquility. There came a new agreement, a new power structure ending India's messiest and shortest family feud in a truly dramatic style. Life will never be the same again for India's largest private sector business family, the Reliance group of industries. The two warring brothers, Mukesh Ambani (Mukesh) and Anil Ambani (Anil), settled the ownership issues when a final agreement was signed after 4 AM on June 19, 2005 at Seawind, the famous residence of the Ambani family. The settlement was reached with the help of a high powered team of negotiations and their great mother Kokilaben D Ambani, who was assisted by the CEO of ICICI, K V Kamath and J M Morgan Stanley's Chairman Nimesh Kampani. According to the settlement, Mukesh will have responsibility for REL Industries and IPCL while Anil will have responsibility for Reliance Infocomm (RIC), Reliance Energy (REL) and Reliance Capital. Anil then triumphantly announced the creation of a new mega business group, The Anil Dhriubhai Ambani Enterprise (ADAE). Mukesh gets charge of companies which account for 95% revenues of the empire while Anil will have to manage the fast growing but cash guzzling businesses.