Why Did Anil Ambani Skip His ED Summons for Questioning?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Anil D. Ambani skipped ED summons for questioning.
- He is willing to cooperate virtually.
- The inquiry is related to a FEMA investigation.
- ED has attached significant assets linked to Reliance Communications.
- Ongoing investigations highlight financial accountability.
New Delhi, Nov 14 (NationPress) Chairman of the Reliance ADAG Group, Anil D. Ambani, has opted to miss the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons for questioning at their Delhi office for the second time this Friday. Instead, he has expressed a willingness to participate via virtual means.
In a statement released on behalf of Anil Ambani, the company emphasized that he is committed to fully cooperating with the ED and is prepared to engage through virtual conferencing.
ED sources indicate that they have yet to receive any official communication from Anil Ambani or his representatives regarding this matter.
The statement noted that the “ED summons concerning Anil D. Ambani are linked to a FEMA inquiry, and not to any issues under the PMLA.”
It also clarified that Anil D. Ambani is not a current member of the Board of Reliance Infrastructure; he served as a non-executive director for approximately fifteen years, from April 2007 to March 2022, without being involved in the daily operations of the firm.
The Enforcement Directorate had summoned Anil Ambani again on November 14 as part of their investigation into a money laundering case concerning the conglomerate. In August, he endured an intensive interrogation lasting nearly nine hours related to an alleged ₹17,000-crore loan fraud at the ED headquarters.
This situation arises shortly after the ED provisionally attached over 132 acres of land valued at ₹4,462.81 crores in Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City located in Navi Mumbai on Monday, as per the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Previously, the ED had attached 42 assets worth over ₹3,083 crores linked to the bank fraud cases of Reliance Communications Ltd. (RCOM), Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd., and Reliance Home Finance Ltd.
The cumulative attachment across these cases exceeds ₹7,545 crores. The ED remains vigilant in pursuing those responsible for financial crimes and is dedicated to recovering illicit proceeds for their rightful owners,” the statement elaborated.
The ED's investigation commenced based on a CBI FIR citing violations of sections 120-B, 406, and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, along with section 13(2) in conjunction with section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1989 against RCOM, Anil Ambani, and others.