CBI raids 7 Reliance sites in Rs 27,337cr fraud cases

What the CBI said on the latest searches

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Thursday it conducted searches at seven premises in connection with a case registered against Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom), a Reliance ADA Group company. The agency said the premises were spread across Mumbai, Gurugram, and Bengaluru. According to the CBI’s statement, the searches were carried out using search warrants dated 14.05.2026. The warrants were issued by the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Mumbai. The agency described the operation as part of a continuing investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing linked to RCom.

Locations covered and the people under focus

The CBI said the searches covered residential premises linked to senior management from a specific period. It identified the targets as the then CEO, CFO, and directors who served during 2015-2017. The agency did not name these individuals in its statement on the seven-location searches. It said the searches resulted in the seizure of “incriminating documents”. The CBI added that further investigation is continuing. The fresh action keeps the focus on decision-making and internal processes during the 2015-2017 period.

Seven cases registered in recent months

The CBI said it has registered seven cases against the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group in the last few months. These cases were registered on complaints lodged by various public sector banks (PSBs) and the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). The agency described the matters as alleged frauds involving thousands of crores of rupees. As per the CBI, the combined “quantum of alleged loss” across these cases is ₹27,337 crore. The agency’s statement places the latest searches within this broader set of bank and institutional lender complaints.

What the alleged losses add up to

From the information disclosed by the agency across related updates, the alleged losses referenced in the RCom-linked matters span multiple figures. The CBI has cited a wrongful loss of around ₹2,929.05 crore to SBI in one case linked to RCom, based on an SBI complaint. It has also stated that a total wrongful loss of ₹19,694.33 crore has been caused to 17 public sector banks and financial institutions in the RCom matter. Separately, the agency’s broader set of seven cases against the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group cites total alleged losses of ₹27,337 crore. These figures are based on agency statements reproduced in the reports and reflect the scale the investigators are examining.

Earlier searches: 31 locations, then 17 premises in Mumbai

The CBI said it had already conducted searches at 31 locations in the last few months after the registration of these cases. In another action referenced by the agency, it conducted searches at 17 premises in Mumbai last Saturday. Those searches related to three cases registered against Reliance ADA Group companies: Reliance Telecom Ltd, Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, and Reliance Home Finance Ltd, along with their directors. The sequence of raids suggests investigators are collecting documents and records across multiple entities and time periods tied to lender complaints.

Arrests of two senior RCom executives

The agency has also made arrests in the RCom-linked bank fraud investigation. Two senior executives of RCom, D. Vishwanath (Joint President) and Anil Kalya (Vice President), were arrested on April 20, according to the CBI. The agency said Vishwanath was overall in-charge of banking operations of the group, and Kalya actively supported him in managing banking operations and payments and utilisation of funds. The CBI said both accused are presently in judicial custody. It has also stated that investigation in the case is ongoing.

Allegations referenced in the SBI complaint

As described in the agency’s statements, the investigation includes allegations of “circuitous transactions” through shell entities controlled by company officials. The CBI has said RCom also got discounted letters of credit (LCs) opened for bogus service-related transactions with group entities, which later devolved, causing losses to banks. The agency’s narrative places the alleged conduct around the sanctioning, disbursal, and utilisation of credit facilities. It also links the alleged misutilisation of funds to the roles played by the arrested executives during the relevant time.

Reliance Group’s clarification on RCom and Anil Ambani’s role

In response to the arrests, a Reliance Group spokesperson said Reliance Communications is no longer part of the Reliance Group. The spokesperson said the company has been undergoing corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) since 2019 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, and that proceedings remain pending in 2026. The spokesperson also said Anil D. Ambani served as a non-executive director on the board of RCom and stepped down in 2019. The statement added that he was not involved in the company’s day-to-day operations after that.

Supreme Court monitoring and what it means for the process

The CBI said the investigation into cases relating to the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group is being monitored by the Supreme Court. While the agency did not provide additional procedural detail in its statement, the disclosure signals that the matter has heightened oversight. For lenders and investors tracking recoveries and legal outcomes, court monitoring can influence timelines and the intensity of investigative follow-through. The ongoing searches and seizures indicate that the evidence-gathering phase is still active. Any next steps would depend on what the agency concludes from seized documents and banking records.

Key facts at a glance

Conclusion

The CBI’s seven-location searches linked to RCom add to a widening investigative trail across multiple Reliance ADA Group entities named in bank and institutional complaints. With seizures reported, arrests already made in the RCom matter, and the agency stating that the Supreme Court is monitoring the broader investigation, the next developments will hinge on what investigators establish from the documents and records collected under court warrants.