Why Did Anil Ambani Skip ED Questioning?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Anil D. Ambani has requested a virtual appearance before the ED, which has been denied.
- The investigation pertains to a money laundering case under the FEMA.
- Ambani claims he is willing to cooperate fully with the authorities.
- The ED has previously attached assets worth over Rs 3,083 crore in related cases.
- The inquiry highlights the scrutiny of high-profile business figures.
New Delhi, Nov 14 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has denied Reliance ADAG Group Chairman Anil D. Ambani the option of a virtual appearance after he requested it in response to a summons related to a money laundering investigation, as per sources on Friday.
Anil Ambani did not appear for the second round of questioning at the ED's Delhi headquarters on November 14.
According to ED insiders, Anil Ambani's request for a virtual appearance has been declined. However, the agency has received an email from him expressing his willingness to appear virtually.
In a media statement, Ambani indicated that he is “willing to appear by virtual means” and emphasized his intent to “fully cooperate with the ED on all matters”.
The summons pertains to an inquiry under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), not under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
It specifically relates to a 2010 domestic EPC contract for the Jaipur–Reengus (JR) Toll Road, focusing on issues with a road contractor and lacking any foreign exchange component.
Furthermore, the statement clarified that Anil D. Ambani is not currently a board member of Reliance Infrastructure. His tenure as a non-executive director spanned from April 2007 to March 2022, during which he was never involved in the company’s daily operations.
The ED had summoned Anil Ambani for questioning on November 14 as part of the ongoing inquiry into the money laundering case involving the conglomerate. He previously underwent a rigorous interrogation lasting approximately nine hours regarding an alleged Rs 17,000-crore loan fraud at the ED headquarters in August.
Additionally, the financial probe agency has attached assets worth over Rs 3,083 crore linked to fraud cases against Reliance Communications Ltd. (RCOM), Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd., and Reliance Home Finance Ltd.