The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached a Mumbai flat belonging to Anil Ambani and a farmhouse in Khandala owned by his son Jai Anshul Ambani in connection with a money laundering case against Reliance Communications (RCOM). According to a spokesperson for the ED, some of the attached properties also belong to Kokilaben D Ambani, Anil Ambani's mother.
Properties Attached Under PMLA
The attachment was carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED has been investigating RCOM and its promoters for alleged financial irregularities, including defaulting on loans and diverting funds. The attached assets include a residential flat in Mumbai's upscale area and a farmhouse in the hill station of Khandala.
Details of the Attached Assets
The Mumbai flat, valued at several crores, is registered in the name of Anil Ambani. The Khandala farmhouse, a sprawling property, is owned by Jai Anshul Ambani. Additionally, the ED has identified other assets linked to Kokilaben Ambani, though the exact nature of these properties has not been disclosed. The total value of the attached assets is expected to run into hundreds of crores of rupees.
ED's Investigation into RCOM
The ED's probe into RCOM began after several banks filed complaints alleging that the company had defaulted on loans worth thousands of crores. The agency has alleged that the funds were siphoned off through shell companies and used to acquire assets, including the properties now attached. The case is part of a broader crackdown on financial fraud and money laundering in the corporate sector.
Anil Ambani and his family have denied any wrongdoing. The Ambani family has stated that the properties were acquired through legitimate means and that the allegations are baseless. Legal proceedings are ongoing, and the ED is expected to file a charge sheet in the coming months.
