Yogendra Yadav of India Against Corruption described the change as punishment for taking on Reliance. Reddy himself was upset over what his sympathizers called "an insult".

Reddy's arrival in the petroleum ministry in January 2011 had unsettled many as his entry was seen as a pushback against the all-pervasive influence of dominant interests.

His critics blamed him for starting a witch-hunt against the private sector and charged him with engaging in a purge of officers whom he suspected of being sympathetic to private players.

Complaints kept growing and found receptive audience in different quarters of the government, including the PMO which also grudged his socialist instincts. Reddy did not approve RIL's $7.2 billion stake-sale deal with BP, insisting on seeking clearance from the Cabinet. His stand annoyed Reliance which argued that the petroleum ministry was equipped to okay the deal on its own.

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