New Delhi, Nov 14: Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani has requested the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to allow him to appear virtually after being summoned in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case on Friday.
A spokesperson for the 66 year old industrialist said Ambani has written to the agency, assuring “full cooperation” in the investigation. According to sources, the ED had initially directed him to appear in person to record his statement.
The probe relates to the Jaipur Reengus Highway Project, where investigators suspect that around ₹100 crore was routed abroad through hawala channels. The ED has already examined several individuals, including alleged hawala operators, before issuing the summons to Ambani.
Hawala refers to the illegal transfer of money outside the formal financial system.
Ambani has previously been questioned by the ED in a separate money-laundering probe linked to an alleged ₹17,000-crore bank fraud involving his group companies.
Calling the current FEMA matter “15 years old”, the Reliance Group statement said it dates back to 2010 and pertains to issues related to a road contractor. Reliance Infrastructure Ltd had awarded an EPC contract for the JR Toll Road (Jaipur–Ringus Highway) that year, which the company says involved no foreign exchange component.
The project has been completed and has been under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) since 2021.
The statement also clarified that Ambani, who served as a non-executive director at Reliance Infrastructure from 2007 to 2022, was not involved in day to day management of the company.