The Indian government has stepped into a bitter gas dispute between the Ambani brothers, recommending that a private family agreement over which they are fighting be set aside.

Reliance Industries, controlled by Mukesh Ambani, is resisting the supply of cheap gas to younger brother Anil’s Reliance Natural Resources under the terms of a private family agreement. The pact, signed four years ago, requires the sale of gas from the Krishna Godavari basin at about half the price agreed with the government.