CBI raids 7 premises in Mumbai, Gurugram, Bengaluru in Reliance ADA Group fraud cases
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, 14 May 2026 conducted searches at seven premises across Mumbai, Gurugram, and Bengaluru in connection with a case registered against Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom), part of the Anil Ambani-led Reliance ADA Group. The raids targeted residential addresses of senior company officials who served during the period 2015–2017.
What the Searches Covered
According to a CBI statement, the searches were carried out at the residential premises of the then Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Directors of RCom who held positions between 2015 and 2017. The searches were conducted on the strength of warrants dated 14 May 2026, issued by the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Mumbai. The agency said the raids resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents and that further investigation is continuing.
Scale of the Fraud Probe
The CBI has, over the last few months, registered seven cases against the Anil Ambani-led group on complaints lodged by various Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), in connection with alleged frauds involving thousands of crores of rupees. The total quantum of alleged loss across all these cases stands at ₹27,337 crore, according to the agency.
Prior to Thursday's action, the CBI had already conducted searches at 31 locations in the months following registration of the cases. Last Saturday, the agency had searched 17 premises in Mumbai alone, in connection with three separate cases against Reliance Telecom Ltd, Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, and Reliance Home Finance Ltd, along with their directors.
Two Executives Already Arrested
Two senior RCom officials were arrested on 20 April: D. Vishwanath, Joint President of Reliance Communications and the person described as overall in-charge of the group's banking operations, and Anil Kalya, Vice President, who allegedly supported Vishwanath in managing banking operations and the payment and utilisation of funds. Both accused are currently in judicial custody.
Supreme Court Monitoring the Investigation
The CBI noted that the investigation into all cases relating to the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group is being monitored by the Supreme Court of India — an unusual degree of judicial oversight that underscores the gravity and complexity of the alleged fraud. This comes amid a broader scrutiny of the group's financial dealings with public institutions, including state-owned banks and LIC, whose exposure runs into thousands of crores.
With searches now totalling 38 locations across multiple cities and two executives in custody, the CBI's investigation appears to be moving toward a critical phase, with further arrests and charge sheets expected in the coming weeks.