Mukesh Ambani may reap rewards from younger brother Anil's telecom woes

Mukesh stepped in to help younger brother Anil pay $80 million in dues to a local unit of Ericsson AB and avert a three-month jail sentence

Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani’s decision to end a deal with his brother -- even as he bailed him out -- may be an astute business move.

While helping keep his sibling out of prison this week, Ambani also ditched an accord to buy the assets of his brother’s beleaguered telecom carrier Reliance Communications Ltd., effectively nudging it toward bankruptcy. With RCom all but sure to head into insolvency proceedings, Ambani may be able to snag those same assets at a discount.

In a last-minute rescue Monday, Mukesh stepped in to help younger brother Anil pay $80 million in dues