Did Anil Ambani Endure a 9-Hour Interrogation at ED Headquarters?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Anil Ambani was interrogated for about nine hours regarding a loan fraud case.
- The ED has plans to summon him again for further questioning.
- He has requested 7-10 days to provide pertinent documents.
- Investigators are examining potential misuse of loans by his companies.
- Raids have been conducted to gather evidence linked to the fraud allegations.
New Delhi, Aug 5 (NationPress) Following an extensive interrogation lasting approximately nine hours regarding an alleged Rs 17,000-crore loan fraud case, Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani finally departed from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) headquarters on Tuesday.
Sources indicate that after this initial round, the regulator plans to summon Anil Ambani again for further questioning in the coming days.
Reportedly, the Reliance Group Chairman has requested a period of 7-10 days from the investigative agency to furnish relevant documents concerning the alleged scam.
The 66-year-old industrialist was called to the ED headquarters in New Delhi, where his testimony was documented under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of an investigation into money laundering linked to various fraud cases involving several of his group companies.
According to insiders, Anil Ambani denied any wrongdoing, asserting that all financial decisions were made by the internal board of his companies, and his role was merely to sign off on them.
He faced inquiries about whether the loans had been funneled to shell companies or if he had engaged in bribing officials. Notably, he was not permitted to have legal representation during the interrogation, which was being recorded.
Earlier that day, the Reliance Group (RAAGA companies) Chairman departed from his residence in Mumbai to arrive at the ED headquarters.
Investigators are examining whether loans secured by his group companies over the last decade were used appropriately or deliberately misallocated. The investigation involves multiple firms under Anil Ambani’s banner, including Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Communications.
One focus of the probe is the alleged misappropriation of around Rs 3,000 crore in loans disbursed by Yes Bank between 2017 and 2019. Another significant aspect relates to a much larger fraud exceeding Rs 14,000 crore associated with Reliance Communications.
Last week, the ED conducted raids at locations linked to Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group, seizing numerous documents, hard drives, and other digital evidence from various sites in Mumbai and Delhi.
These raids were initiated as part of a money laundering investigation concerning the Yes Bank loan fraud case.
The ED, in collaboration with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is probing allegations of financial misconduct, including fund misallocation, loan fraud, and money laundering.