ED Stands Firm: Ambani Must Appear in Person
The Enforcement Directorate has firmly rejected industrialist Anil Ambani's request for virtual appearance, directing him to physically report for questioning on November 17, 2025. This development comes after the businessman sought to avoid personal appearance at the agency's Delhi headquarters.
Background of the Summons
The fresh summons was issued last week, requiring Ambani to appear before investigating officers on November 14. However, the industrialist's legal team requested permission for virtual participation, which the financial investigation agency promptly denied. This marks the second round of questioning for Ambani, coming nearly three months after his previous eight-hour interrogation session in the same case.
The timing of these summons is significant, arriving just days after the ED's dramatic provisional attachment of more than 42 properties linked to Ambani and his companies. The attached assets, valued at an astonishing Rs 3,083 crore, form part of the ongoing probe into companies belonging to the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.
Ambani's Defense and Case Details
Responding to the escalating situation, Anil Ambani's spokesperson issued a detailed statement clarifying the businessman's position. "Anil D Ambani writes to ED to fully cooperate on all matters," the spokesperson stated, while emphasizing that the summons relates specifically to a FEMA inquiry and not to any matter under the PMLA.
The case traces back to 2010 and involves the Jaipur-Reengus highway project. According to the spokesperson's explanation, "Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. awarded an EPC contract for the construction of the JR Toll Road. This was a purely domestic contract with no foreign exchange component involved whatsoever." The spokesperson further noted that the project has been fully completed and has been with the National Highways Authority of India since 2021.
In what appears to be a strategic distancing from the core issues, the spokesperson clarified that "Anil D. Ambani is not a member of the Board of Reliance Infrastructure. He served the company for about 15 years, from April 2007 to March 2022, only as a non-executive director, and was never involved in day-to-day management of the company."
Legal Implications and Next Steps
The ED's refusal to allow virtual appearance underscores the seriousness with which the agency is treating this investigation. Legal experts suggest that physical presence is often required in complex financial cases where document verification and detailed questioning are necessary.
With the Monday deadline approaching, all eyes will be on whether Ambani complies with the ED's directive. The outcome of this November 17 meeting could significantly influence the trajectory of this high-profile investigation that has already seen substantial asset attachments.
The case represents one of the most significant corporate investigations in recent times, involving one of India's most prominent business families and substantial financial implications running into thousands of crores.
