Mumbai, Sept. 15 -- Sustained high crude oil prices could significantly raise pressure on India's economy by increasing the country's import bill, weakening the rupee, pushing up inflation and eventually forcing an increase in retail fuel prices, while potentially putting the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on a rate-hike path, according to Anindya Banerjee, Head of Equity Research at Kotak Securities.

Speaking to ANI in an exclusive interview on Monday, Banerjee said elevated crude prices could increasingly constrain the ability of oil marketing companies (OMCs) and the government to absorb higher costs without passing some of the burden on to consumers.

With Brent crude hovering around USD 106 per barrel, he said a sustained rise in oil p...