Anil Ambani’s Mumbai Residence Raided by CBI in ₹2,929 Crore SBI Loan Fraud Case
On August 23, 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted high-profile raids at the Mumbai residence of industrialist Anil Ambani and the offices of Reliance Communications Ltd. (RCom) in connection with an alleged ₹2,929 crore bank fraud case involving the State Bank of India (SBI). The searches, which began early in the morning at Ambani’s sea-facing bungalow ‘Sea Wind’ in Cuffe Parade, mark a significant escalation in the ongoing probe into financial irregularities linked to RCom.
Background of the Case
The CBI’s actions stem from a complaint filed by SBI’s Mumbai branch on August 18, 2025, accusing RCom, its promoter director Anil Ambani, and others of defrauding the bank to the tune of ₹2,929 crore. According to the CBI’s First Information Report (FIR), the accused allegedly engaged in criminal conspiracy, cheating, and breach of trust by misrepresenting facts to secure credit facilities from SBI. The funds were reportedly misused through complex financial maneuvers, including:
- Diversion of loan funds: Inter-company loans and inter-corporate deposits among RCom and its subsidiaries.
- Fictitious transactions: Creation and write-off of fictitious debtors to conceal fund diversion.
- Misuse of financial instruments: Improper use of sales invoice financing and discounting of RCom bills by Reliance Infratel Ltd.
- Write-offs: Capital advances to Netizen Engineering Pvt. Ltd., a Reliance ADA Group company, were written off, raising red flags.
SBI’s exposure to RCom includes ₹2,227.64 crore in fund-based loans and ₹786.52 crore in non-fund-based bank guarantees, with accrued interest since August 2016. A forensic audit conducted in 2020 revealed that of the ₹31,580 crore raised by RCom and its subsidiaries from various lenders, ₹13,667 crore was used to repay bank loans, while ₹12,692 crore was paid to connected parties, indicating potential fund diversion.
The CBI Raid
The CBI obtained search warrants from a special court in Mumbai on August 22, 2025, and initiated searches at two key locations: Ambani’s residence and RCom’s corporate offices. A team of 7–8 officials arrived at ‘Sea Wind’ around 7 AM, with Ambani and his family present during the operation. The searches aimed to recover crucial documents, electronic devices, and financial records to substantiate claims of fund misuse. The CBI has stated that the searches are ongoing, signaling a thorough investigation into the alleged irregularities.
This is not the first time RCom and Ambani have faced scrutiny. SBI initially classified RCom and Ambani as “fraud” in November 2020 and filed a complaint with the CBI in January 2021. However, a Delhi High Court order maintaining a “status quo” halted the process. Following a Supreme Court ruling in March 2023, which mandated lenders to provide borrowers a hearing before fraud classification, SBI reversed its decision in September 2023. The bank reclassified the account as “fraud” on June 13, 2025, in line with an RBI circular issued in July 2024, and reported it to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on June 24, 2025.
Ambani’s Response
Anil Ambani, through his spokesperson, has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that he was a non-executive director of RCom with no involvement in day-to-day management. The spokesperson highlighted that the issues date back over a decade and that SBI had previously withdrawn proceedings against five other non-executive directors, suggesting Ambani was being “selectively singled out.” Ambani has challenged SBI’s fraud declaration in court and maintains that he will vigorously defend himself. RCom, currently under the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) since 2019, is managed by a Committee of Creditors led by SBI and overseen by a Resolution Professional, with its resolution plan pending approval at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai.
Broader Context
The CBI raid follows closely on the heels of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation, which saw Ambani questioned for nine hours on August 5, 2025, in a related money-laundering probe involving alleged loan frauds worth over ₹17,000 crore. The ED’s searches in July 2025 covered 35 locations linked to Reliance Group companies, focusing on loan diversions to shell entities and potential bribery involving Yes Bank promoters. These developments underscore the mounting regulatory scrutiny on Ambani’s business empire, once a telecom giant, which crumbled after Reliance Jio’s disruptive entry in 2016 led to RCom’s exit from the consumer mobile business in 2017.
Implications
The CBI’s actions signal a renewed push to address corporate loan defaults and financial mismanagement in India’s banking sector. With RCom’s insolvency proceedings ongoing and personal insolvency proceedings initiated against Ambani, the case could have far-reaching consequences for his business legacy and the broader Reliance ADA Group. For SBI and other lenders, recovering dues remains a priority, as the bank continues to cooperate with investigative agencies.
As the investigation unfolds, all eyes are on the judicial proceedings at the NCLT and other forums, including the Supreme Court, where Ambani’s legal battles are set to intensify. For now, the raids at ‘Sea Wind’ serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing one of India’s once-celebrated tycoons.
Sources: India Today, The Hindu, The Economic Times, NDTV, Times of India
