Anil Ambani Faces ED in ₹40,000 Crore Money Laundering Probe

Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in New Delhi on Thursday, February 26, 2026, for a second round of questioning in connection with an alleged bank fraud-linked money laundering case. The 66-year-old businessman arrived at the federal probe agency's office around 10:30 am, where his statement is being recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This latest development follows closely on the heels of significant action by the ED, which provisionally attached Ambani's luxurious Mumbai residence, 'Abode', located in the upscale Pali Hill area. The 17-storey property, standing 66-meters high, is valued at ₹3,716 crore and was attached on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, under the anti-money laundering law. With this attachment, the cumulative value of assets seized by the ED in connection with the ongoing investigation against the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) now stands at over ₹15,700 crore. The probe primarily pertains to an alleged bank fraud amounting to over ₹40,000 crore involving Ambani's group company, Reliance Communications (RCom), and other associated entities. The ED's investigation was initiated based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which cited charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and corruption against RCom, Anil Ambani, and others. RCom and its group companies are alleged to have availed loans from various domestic and foreign lenders between 2010 and 2012, with a total outstanding amount of ₹40,185 crore. Five of these accounts have reportedly been declared fraudulent by the lending banks. The ED has informed the Supreme Court that it has registered three money laundering cases against ADAG entities to investigate charges of bank loan fraud and other financial irregularities. In a crucial development, the Supreme Court recently directed the ED to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe all these instances, emphasizing the need for a fair and timely investigation. The apex court had also highlighted an undertaking by Ambani's counsel that his client would not leave the country and that all necessary preventive actions would be taken to ensure the probe is not hampered. Furthermore, the CBI has been tasked by the Supreme Court to identify any bank officials potentially complicit in the alleged fraud. Anil Ambani was first questioned by the ED in August 2025. His wife, Tina Ambani, was also summoned by the ED in connection with the same money laundering case but reportedly sought adjournments on two occasions in February 2026 and has yet to record her statement. The investigation has revealed that the 'Abode' property was aggregated into the 'RiseE Trust,' a private family trust of the Ambani family members, allegedly to create an impression that Anil Ambani was not involved in its ownership and to shield it from his personal liabilities related to RCom loans. The ED alleges that the property was intended for the beneficial use of the Ambani family, rather than being available to the distressed public banks whose loans turned into non-performing assets (NPAs). The agency has stated its commitment to safeguarding the financial system and protecting public funds by identifying and attaching assets involved in money laundering. Further investigation in the case is ongoing.

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