Ex-Union secretary seeks SC-monitored probe into alleged bank fraud by RCOM, Anil Ambani

Core Viewpoint - A public interest litigation has been filed seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged large-scale banking fraud involving Reliance Communications Ltd (RCOM), its group companies, and former promoter Anil Ambani [1] Group 1: Allegations of Fraud - The plea alleges that RCOM, Reliance Infratel, and Reliance Telecom diverted ₹31,580 crore in loans from a State Bank of India-led consortium between 2013 and 2017 [2] - The petition claims that existing investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) only cover a fraction of the alleged wrongdoing and fail to examine the roles of bank officials and regulators [3][8] - A 2020 forensic audit commissioned by SBI reportedly uncovered extensive financial irregularities, including the diversion of funds for unrelated loans and circular transactions to disguise loan evergreening [4][5] Group 2: Delays and Institutional Complicity - The petition highlights a five-year delay in filing the FIR by the bank, suggesting possible collusion among bank officials and public servants [4][6][10] - The plea argues that the inertia displayed by the RBI and the ED indicates deeper institutional complicity in the alleged fraud [10] Group 3: Use of Shell Entities and Financial Irregularities - The petition alleges that shell entities were used to siphon funds and that sham preference-share structures helped write off over ₹1,800 crore in liabilities [7] - Similar patterns of financial irregularities are noted in other Anil Ambani-linked firms, involving questionable write-downs and offshore structures, indicating potential violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) [7] Group 4: Call for Comprehensive Investigation - The PIL seeks a comprehensive investigation monitored by the Supreme Court, covering the full forensic audit record and potential offences under various laws, including the IPC, PMLA, and Companies Act [9] - The petition emphasizes that fraud of this magnitude cannot be investigated piecemeal and calls for a thorough examination of all related aspects [10] Group 5: Ongoing Scrutiny and Legal Actions - Anil Ambani and several Reliance Group entities are currently under scrutiny, with recent searches conducted by the CBI in a separate loan-fraud case involving RCOM [11] - By November 2025, the ED had frozen assets worth ₹3,084 crore and attached land valued at ₹4,462 crore, citing suspected laundering of proceeds from bank loans [12]