Mumbai: In fresh trouble for industrialist Anil Ambani, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against him, Reliance Communications (RCom) and others over an alleged ₹2,929-crore bank fraud involving the State Bank of India (SBI).

Officials said the ED’s action follows a First Information Report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last month. The CBI had named Ambani, RCom and others, including some government officials, accusing them of causing losses to SBI. It had also searched Ambani’s residence as well as RCom offices during its probe.

The SBI had classified RCom and Mr Ambani as “fraud” on June 13 and sent a report to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on June 24.

Reacting to the development, a spokesperson for Ambani said the complaint pertained to matters dating back more than a decade, when Ambani was a non-executive director and not involved in the company’s daily management. “SBI has already withdrawn proceedings against five other non-executive directors. Despite this, Mr Ambani has been selectively singled out,” the statement said.

The spokesperson added that Reliance Communications has, for the past six years, been under the supervision of a committee of creditors led by SBI and overseen by a resolution professional. “The matter remains sub judice before the NCLT and other judicial forums, including the Supreme Court. Mr Ambani has duly challenged SBI’s declaration before the competent judicial forum. He strongly denies all allegations and charges, and will duly defend himself,” the statement said.

With this latest ECIR, the ED’s ongoing investigations into Ambani and his group firms now cover four cases. Apart from the SBI matter, the agency is probing an alleged Rs 3,000-crore loan diversion linked to Yes Bank, involving suspected fund diversions by Reliance Group firms between 2017 and 2019. The probe has included raids at over 35 premises, searches at 50 companies, and questioning of at least 25 individuals.

The agency is also examining suspected loan diversions of more than Rs 17,000 crore by Reliance Infrastructure and other group entities, allegedly routed through inter-corporate deposits. Additionally, charges of fake bank guarantees worth Rs 68.2 crore tied to Reliance Power and Biswal Tradelink Pvt Ltd (BTPL) are part of the broader Rs 17,000-crore loan fraud inquiry.

Agency said that the SBI case involves misrepresentation to secure credit facilities, diversion of loan funds, inter-company transactions, misuse of invoice financing, discounting of bills, and creation of fictitious debtors. The accused face charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and criminal breach of trust.

The ED action was triggered by a complaint received on August 18, 2025, from Jyoti Kumar, Deputy General Manager of SBI’s Mumbai branch, referencing a forensic audit report dated October 15, 2020, that identified irregularities in loan utilisation. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether diverted funds were laundered through shell companies or offshore channels.

In the SBI case, it is alleged that the accused, in criminal conspiracy, secured credit facilities from SBI for RCom, misused loan funds, engaged in inter-company transactions, misused sales invoice financing, discounted bills of RCom via Reliance Infratel Ltd., routed funds through inter-corporate deposits, and created/write-off fictitious debtors.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has decided to shift the Dahisar toll naka. The move will bring relief to thousands of daily commuters, especially residents of Mira-Bhayander, who have been facing this toll for a long time.

For many years, the Dahisar toll plaza had been a cause of trouble for commuters. Long queues during peak hours and wastage of time were causing financial burden on local residents. Citizens of Mira-Bhayander were constantly demanding that short commuters should not be burdened with additional toll.

Officials have confirmed that the toll naka will now be shifted further on the highway. This will exempt local commuters from paying toll charges on short-distance journeys. This change will not only smoothen the traffic but will also reduce the daily expenses of people.

Local citizen groups and representatives have welcomed the decision. A resident said, “This was a long-pending demand. Now we will not have to pay extra toll on short-distance travel.”

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will soon decide the new location of the toll naka and work will start in the coming weeks.

This shifting of Dahisar toll naka is being considered as an important step towards easing urban travel and solving the problems of suburban residents.

Mumbai, September 10, 2025 (By Kamar Ansari) The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Farooq Shaukat Bagwan, one of the accused in the 2012 Pune serial bombings, after he spent more than 12 years in judicial custody without the trial reaching a conclusion.

A division bench of Justices A. S. Gadkari and Rajesh S. Patil observed that Bagwan’s continued incarceration amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to a speedy trial. The court also noted that a co-accused, Munib Iqbal Memon, had already been granted bail last year on similar grounds, making Bagwan eligible for the same relief on the principle of parity.

Bagwan, now 39, was arrested in December 2012 and charged under multiple laws, including the Indian Penal Code, the Explosives Act, the Arms Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.

The Pune blasts, which occurred on August 1, 2012, targeted locations such as Deccan Gymkhana and Bal Gandharv Rang Mandir. Five low-intensity explosions took place between 7:25 pm and 11:30 pm, injuring one person. A sixth explosive device, planted in a bicycle near Jangli Maharaj Road, was later defused.

According to the prosecution, Bagwan allegedly provided forged documents for obtaining SIM cards and allowed his shop to be used in preparations for the blasts. However, his defense, led by Advocate Mubin Solkar, argued that the trial had progressed at an unacceptably slow pace. He pointed out that only 27 out of nearly 170 prosecution witnesses had been examined in more than a decade, making prolonged custody unjustifiable.

The bench underscored that the right to a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution cannot be denied. Noting that the trial was unlikely to conclude soon, the court ordered Bagwan’s release on bail upon furnishing a surety bond of ₹1 lakh.

The State opposed the plea, citing confessional statements and evidence linking Bagwan to the conspiracy. Despite this, the judges ruled that prolonged pre-trial detention and judicial parity with the co-accused strongly justified granting bail.