ED files PMLA case against Reliance Infra over Rs 187-crore diversion
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New Delhi: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint against Anil Ambani Group company Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RIL) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a special court here, alleging the diversion of around Rs 187 crore from four highway projects awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
According to a statement issued by the investigative agency on Sunday, the complaint was filed on Saturday and names RIL, Sateesh Seth and others for offences under Section 3 and Section 3 read with Section 70, punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA.
The ED said its investigation uncovered an organised scheme to divert public funds from four NHAI-awarded toll-road projects — Trichy-Karur (NH-67), Trichy-Dindigul (NH-45), Salem-Ulundurpet (NH-68) and Jaipur-Reengus (NH-11).
The projects were financed through NHAI grants as well as loans from banks and financial institutions.
According to the agency, approximately Rs 187 crore was siphoned off during September-October 2010 through sham, post-facto and back-dated arrangements for fictitious sub-contracting work.
The money trail showed funds moving from RIL or its project-specific Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and EPC contractors to construction contractors and subsequently to shell entities that had no connection with road construction, the ED said.
It alleged that documents were later created to make the transfers appear as genuine project expenditure, while the funds were layered through shell entities and diamond traders.
The ED said it provisionally attached assets worth Rs 187 crore 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.
Seth was arrested in the case on June 12 and is currently in judicial custody.
The ED initiated the investigation based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Mumbai, on February 11, 2026. The FIR relates to shell companies allegedly incorporated and operated using forged documents and bank accounts to route funds and make outward remittances through fictitious invoices and over-valued diamond imports.
Further investigation into the role of other individuals is underway, the agency said.
With IANS inputs