New Delhi: The troubles for Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani continue to mount. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a fresh money laundering case against Ambani, Reliance Communications, and others in connection with an alleged ₹2,929 crore bank fraud.
Action Based on CBI Report
According to officials, the ED’s move is based on a chargesheet recently filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI had earlier held Anil Ambani and Reliance Communications responsible for causing losses to State Bank of India (SBI). In connection with the same case, the agency had also conducted raids at multiple premises linked to the Reliance Group Chairman.
CBI’s Fraud Case Against RCom
Prior to this, the CBI had registered a bank fraud case worth ₹2,929 crore against Reliance Communications (RCom). Following the registration of the case, Anil Ambani had strongly denied the allegations. A company spokesperson had claimed that Ambani was being deliberately targeted and stressed that SBI’s complaint pertained to matters that were nearly a decade old.
Company’s Stand
In its statement, Reliance Communications clarified that at the time of the alleged fraud, Anil Ambani was serving as a non-executive director and had no direct involvement in the company’s day-to-day operations. Despite these assertions, the ED initiated its probe on the grounds of suspected money laundering after the CBI’s action.
ED Questions Amitabh Jhunjhunwala
In a fresh development, the ED on Tuesday also questioned Amitabh Jhunjhunwala, a former close aide of Anil Ambani. Jhunjhunwala’s name had surfaced earlier during the course of investigations, making his role another key aspect of the probe.
