Elon Musk has intensified his public criticism of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, sharing media reports about alleged links between Reliance-backed companies and BJP election campaigns, as tensions continue over the delayed launch of Starlink satellite internet services in India.
On Friday evening, Musk shared screenshots of a 2022 Al Jazeera report titled How a Reliance-funded firm boosts BJP's campaigns on Facebook and an archived 2024 report by The Indian Express concerning political donations made by Qwik Supply, a Reliance-linked company.
The Indian Express report stated that Qwik Supply donated ₹385 crore to the BJP and ₹25 crore to the Shiv Sena through electoral bonds. Musk's posts came hours after he sarcastically addressed Ambani as "Prime Minister Ambani" and accused him of seeking to protect a monopoly in India's telecommunications market. Reliance has not publicly responded to Musk's allegations.
Elon Musk calls Mukesh Ambani 'Prime Minister Ambani'
In an earlier post on X, Musk questioned Ambani's influence over India's regulatory environment and asked whether the Reliance chairman would allow Starlink to compete in the country.
"Dear Prime Minister Ambani, Please accept my humble apologies for not realising that you are the real boss of India. Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?" Musk wrote.
The Tesla and SpaceX chief has alleged that powerful business interests are attempting to block Starlink's entry into India to protect their market position. He has also argued that the satellite internet service could bring connectivity to remote areas, helping children access education and small businesses reach customers globally.
However, Musk has not provided publicly verified evidence establishing that Ambani or Reliance has deliberately obstructed Starlink's entry into the country.
What reports did Musk share about Reliance-linked firms?
The first report shared by Musk was published by Al Jazeera in 2022 and examined the alleged role of a Reliance-funded company in supporting BJP campaigns on Facebook.
The second was an archived report by The Indian Express from 2024 concerning Qwik Supply and its political contributions through electoral bonds. According to that report, the company donated ₹385 crore to the BJP and ₹25 crore to the Shiv Sena.
Musk shared the reports amid his broader criticism of the regulatory delays facing Starlink in India. However, the existence of political donations or a report about social media campaigning does not, by itself, establish a connection between those activities and the approval process for satellite internet services.
Centre rejects allegations of favouritism in Starlink approval process
The controversy comes as Starlink, operated by Musk's SpaceX, awaits the remaining approvals required to begin commercial satellite broadband operations in India.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has rejected suggestions that the government is favouring domestic operators or selectively applying regulations. He said India does not permit monopolies in any sector and maintained that the authorisation framework for satellite communication services is fair and non-discriminatory.
According to Scindia, three satellite communication providers — Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb — have secured licences. They can begin operations after meeting the required security conditions and completing the applicable regulatory milestones.
The government has also said that spectrum assignment and security compliance remain necessary before commercial services can begin.
Starlink's India launch faces regulatory hurdles
Starlink has been seeking to enter the Indian market for several years. Although it has secured key regulatory clearances, the company still needs to meet the remaining requirements before launching commercial services.
The dispute has also revived the debate over satellite spectrum allocation. Reliance Jio had previously argued for auction-based spectrum allocation, while Starlink favoured administrative allocation. India ultimately opted for administrative allocation for satellite spectrum.
Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have also entered distribution agreements with Starlink, under which they could offer the service once it receives the necessary approvals. Both companies have interests in the wider satellite communications market.
The timing of Starlink's commercial launch remains uncertain as authorities work through spectrum pricing and security requirements.
Musk's latest posts have added a political dimension to the business dispute, placing corporate donations, regulatory transparency and competition in India's telecommunications sector under renewed scrutiny.
