New Delhi, India, August 9 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, before the Special Court (PMLA), Dwarka District Courts, New Delhi, in a case involving Reliance Anil Ambani Group’s Reliance Infrastructure Ltd.
According to a press release, the prosecution complaint was filed against Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. (RIL), Sateesh Seth and others for alleged offenses under Section 3 and Section 3 read with Section 70, punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002.
The ED initiated its investigation based on FIR No. 172/2026, dated February 11, registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Mumbai. The case concerns shell companies allegedly incorporated and operated using forged documents and bank accounts to route funds and make outward remittances under the cover of fictitious invoices and overvalued diamond imports.
The ED investigation revealed an alleged organized scheme to divert public funds from four toll-road projects awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): Trichy-Karur (NH-67), Trichy-Dindigul (NH-45), Salem-Ulundurpet (NH-68) and Jaipur-Reengus (NH-11).
The projects were financed through NHAI grants and loans from banks and financial institutions. Approximately Rs. 187 crores were allegedly siphoned off during September and October 2010 through sham, post-facto or backdated arrangements for fictitious subcontracting work.
According to the press release, the money trail moved from RIL or its project-specific special purpose vehicles and EPC contractors to construction contractors and subsequently to shell entities with no connection to road construction.
Documents were allegedly created afterward to portray the transfers as legitimate project expenditures, while the funds were layered through shell entities and diamond traders, the press release stated.
The ED provisionally attached assets valued at Rs. 187 crores in the case on August 3. The attached assets include immovable properties and equity shares of Reliance Power Ltd. held by RIL, as well as land held by Ksheeraabd Constructions Private Ltd.
Sateesh Seth was arrested in the case on June 12 and remains in judicial custody.
Further investigation into the roles of other individuals is underway. (ANI)
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