Mukesh Ambani camp quits board of Dhirubhai technology institute

The Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT) will go to Anil Ambani as part of the settlement between the Ambani brothers.

According to a source in the Gandhinagar-based DA-IICT, Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries (RIL) has resigned as chairman of DA-IICT, which was promoted by the Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation and the Reliance group.

Following Mukesh's resignation a couple of days back, at least half-a-dozen board members of the institute, including Hasmukh Shah and Parimal Nathwani, resigned.

"As soon as I learnt that DA-IICT will go to Anil Ambani, I resigned from the board. The new management should have a chance to reconstitute the board." Hasmukh Shah, chairman NID and former chairman of IPCL, told Business Standard on Wednesday.

Others board members of DA-IICT from the Mukesh Ambani camp, are V V Bhat, Parimal Nathwani, professor Paul Raj, professor M A Pai, K V Subramaniam, L V Merchant, and Sam Pitroda among others.

On whether he would reconsider an induction into the board if Anil Ambani asked him to do so, Shah said, "Anil wanted to meet me following my resignation. DA-IICT is a good institute and I may reconsider if I am asked to do so."

Professor S C Sahasrabudhe, chairman and director of DA-IICT, could not be contacted despite several attempts.

J N Singh, secretary, department of science and technology, government of Gujarat, who is a government nominee on the board, said, "I am a government nominee on the board and I am not going to resign. I am not aware of the resignation of other members. The reconstitution of the board will, however, be decided by Reliance."

One of the professors at DA-IICT said, "The board of governors had met in December last and the meeting was headed by Mukesh Ambani. I am not sure when the new board would be reconstituted."

DA-IICT, a non-profit educational society, was established in 2001 to promote education, research, and training in information and communication technology.

The institute commenced activities from August 2001.