file reading is not working properly in php

Scenario: Migrating from Existing environment to new environment (Both are Linux environments) for PHP CodeIgnitor application. While accessing the application it is found that file_get_contents is not fetching values from the environment file. The application is running on an apache web server and application has to read the variables from the environment file using file_get_contents. But it is returning the blank value and not throwing any errors.

Php Version: 7.3.5

Framework used is CodeIgnitor and also using php-fpm

Code: try{$content = file_get_contents('/samplepath/myapplication/.env');echo " <br/> Content is $content <br/>"; catch (Exception $e) {echo 'Error Caught $e';}

Expected Result : This should return all the values from .env file

Actual Result: It is returning blank while accessing through application hosted in apache web server

Observations:

1. When executed the above code independently, this is fetching the values properly from the environment file. i.e. if above code snippet pasted to a test.php and execute php test.php >> This is working as expected

2. The path provided in the above file is an absolute path. (above path is a sample path given)

3. Gave full permission to the user to access the file.

4. Checked with a different file (other than .env)also which is showing the same behavior.

5. Made the following changes in php.ini also. Not able to see any error in logs (checked in server logs and fpm logs).

display_errors=On error_reporting= E_ALL & ~E_DEPRECATED & ~E_STRICT

6. Not sure whether this is related as the below configuration is related to URL, but still it is enabled allow_url_fopen = On

7.Checked to read the file using readfile ,but still the same behavior as it is returning blank

8. Checked whether the file is readable just above the read code and it is returning true