New Delhi, Feb 4: The Supreme Court on Wednesday instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to carry out a “fair”, “prompt”, and impartial investigation into alleged large-scale banking and corporate fraud involving the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), Anil Ambani, and its associated companies.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi directed both agencies to submit fresh status reports within four weeks, highlighting the need for accelerated progress in ongoing probes. Noting delays in the initiation of investigations, the court asked the ED to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with senior officials specifically to handle cases against ADAG and its entities.
Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Shyam Divan appeared for Anil Ambani and ADAG, receiving four weeks to file their responses to the public interest litigation (PIL). Rohatgi assured the bench that Ambani would remain in India and would not leave without court permission, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta confirmed that look out circulars are in place to prevent him from traveling abroad.
The PIL, filed by EAS Sarma, alleges systematic diversion of public funds, manipulation of financial statements, and institutional complicity across multiple ADAG companies. Earlier, the bench had issued notices to the Centre, CBI, ED, Ambani, and ADAG on November 18, seeking sealed status reports from the agencies.
The Supreme Court emphasized that this constitutes the last opportunity for Ambani and the companies to respond and file their submissions in the matter.