"Watch out for 3Cs -- chamchas, chelas and cronies," Anil Ambani said in a subtle message, amid the battle for control of the Reliance empire with his elder brother Mukesh.

The Reliance vice chairman invoked his father Dhirubhai Ambani's philosophy against these '3Cs' in an e-mail to the 80,000-stong workforce of the group.

• The Reliance 'ownership issue'

Observing that his father never had any management education but his teachings were remarkable, Anil said that Dhirubhai told him the day he joined Reliance, "You have a choice -- you can either demand respect, or command respect. Nothing will please me, if you command respect."