Reliance Communications

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against Anil Ambani and his telecom firm, Reliance Communications (RCom), in connection with a massive bank fraud. The charges stem from allegations of misrepresentation, diversion of funds, and default on loans taken from a consortium of Indian banks. Once a telecom giant, RCom has been struggling with insolvency and mounting debt, and this probe adds another layer of complexity to its long-running financial troubles.

In response to the State Bank of India’s recent classification of Reliance Communications’ (RCom) loan account as “fraud,” two other Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) companies—Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Power—have issued formal statements distancing themselves from the development. The companies emphasized that they are independent, publicly listed entities with no financial or operational ties to RCom, nor to its erstwhile director Anil Ambani.

India’s largest public sector lender, the State Bank of India (SBI), has formally categorized the loan account of Reliance Communications as fraudulent, escalating a long-standing financial saga involving the telecom company once led by Anil Ambani. SBI’s decision follows months of unanswered concerns over financial irregularities and breaches of loan terms. This classification, which aligns with similar action taken by Canara Bank in 2024, has significant regulatory implications.