The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Ashok Pal, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Reliance Power Ltd, for his alleged role in a money laundering case linked to the Anil Ambani Group.

Pal was taken into custody in Delhi late last night after hours of questioning. He is expected to be produced before a special court in the capital, where the agency will seek his custody for further interrogation.

In its official statement, the ED stated that Ashok Pal ‘played a crucial role in the diversion of funds from a public-listed company.’ The agency claimed that a board resolution had empowered him and other senior executives to finalise, sign and execute all documents related to SECI’s Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) tender using Reliance Power’s financial credentials.

According to the ED, Pal was instrumental in submitting a bogus bank guarantee worth over ₹68 crore to the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) ‘with the intention to cheat a public sector undertaking.’

Fake Guarantee from Non-Existent Bank Branch

Investigators revealed that Reliance Power submitted a forged guarantee purportedly issued by FirstRand Bank’s Manila branch—despite the fact that the bank has no presence in the Philippines. The ED said this highlights the “degree of fraud” involved in the scheme.

Pal allegedly selected Odisha-based Biswal Tradelink Pvt Ltd (BTPL) to issue the fake guarantee, despite it being a small firm operating from a residential address with no credible background. BTPL’s director, Partha Sarathi Biswal, is already in judicial custody.

The ED added that the fake BG racket operated through lookalike domains of major Indian banks—such as s-bi.co.in instead of sbi.co.in—to impersonate legitimate communications. These spoofed domains mimicked banks like SBI, PNB, Indian Bank, and IndusInd Bank by altering a single character to deceive recipients.

According to the ED, Pal also played a key role in diverting funds through fake transport invoices running into crores. He allegedly approved payments and documentation outside the company’s official SAP and vendor systems, often using Telegram and WhatsApp to facilitate communication and approvals.

The agency emphasised that the fraud, orchestrated through a public-listed company where over 75 per cent of shares are held by the public, “directly affects public interest.”

The ED maintains that Pal’s arrest marks a significant step in unearthing a larger network of financial irregularities linked to the Anil Ambani Group’s business entities.

Mumbai: A large number of private hospitals empanelled under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) — which covers over 1,600 medical and surgical procedures — are reeling under financial strain as the Maharashtra government has failed to clear pending bills worth over Rs 182 crore. The dues have remained unpaid for several months, with many hospitals claiming that payments have been stuck since last year.

According to official data, of the 1,792 hospitals participating in the scheme, 1,144 are private. The backlog has hit smaller hospitals the hardest, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where MJPJAY beneficiaries form a major share of patients.

Many hospitals are now reluctant to admit new patients under the scheme due to uncertainty over reimbursements. In some cases, essential surgeries have been reportedly postponed as suppliers have stopped providing medical implants and consumables amid unpaid dues.

An official from the Health Department said the government has so far disbursed around Rs1,550 crore. However, as of the last week of September, about Rs 182 crore remained pending.

The delay has been attributed to the scheme’s transition from an insurance-based model—where private insurers settled hospital claims—to an “assurance mode,” under which the state government directly manages payments.

State Health Minister Prakash Abitkar admitted there were some technical issues that led to the delay. “The finance department has already approved the payments, and they will be cleared gradually before the end of the year,” Abitkar said. He added that as of now, only Rs 182 crore remains pending.

While the government claims to have cleared most payments under various health schemes, hospital associations argue that the settlement process remains slow and inconsistent. Verification and approval of claims often take months, disrupting cash flow and routine hospital operations.

Healthcare experts warn that such payment delays undermine the very purpose of MJPJAY—to provide free, cashless treatment to low-income families. They caution that unless the government expedites bill clearances and ensures timely reimbursements, the credibility of the state’s flagship health assurance scheme could be at risk.

Abitkar has assured that pending dues will be cleared soon and announced that, starting next year, all MJPJAY bills will be settled on a monthly basis to prevent future backlogs.

Navi Mumbai, October 11: The newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) road witnessed its first accident around 4 pm on Friday, causing panic among locals and motorists. three cars travelling at high speed on the Ulwe-Panvel service road collided with each other. Fortunately, no major injuries were reported, though the vehicles sustained significant damage.

Preliminary information suggests that a car heading from Panvel city towards the airport rammed into a tempo coming from the opposite direction. The impact was so severe that the sound of the crash could be heard across the area. Within moments, another car trailing behind the first vehicle hit the accident site, resulting in a three-vehicle pile-up.

The accident’s intensity caused the small tempo to overturn, blocking the road completely for a brief period. Locals and motorists quickly rushed to help and rescued the tempo driver, who sustained minor injuries as per the report. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Upon receiving the alert, police officials arrived at the scene and cleared the wreckage to restore the traffic flow. The incident has been registered at the local police station. Initial investigations point towards over-speeding and negligence as the primary causes of the mishap.

As this is the first reported accident on the newly constructed NMIA road, concerns have been raised about road safety and speed management. The route sees frequent movement of heavy vehicles and construction materials related to the airport project. Police have urged motorists to follow traffic rules strictly and maintain safe driving speeds.

The incident has prompted calls for increased vigilance and safety measures along the high-speed corridor connecting Panvel to the upcoming international airport.