Reliance Infrastructure ED probe: key PMLA actions in 2026

What the Enforcement Directorate said

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said it has filed chargesheets in two separate money-laundering cases involving companies and former executives of the Reliance Anil Ambani Group (RAAG), alleging diversion of funds worth thousands of crores. One of the matters relates to Reliance Infrastructure Limited (Reliance Infrastructure). The ED said it filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi against Reliance Infrastructure, former Reliance Group executive Sateesh Seth, and others. The agency described these filings as part of intensified money-laundering investigations involving Reliance group-linked companies.

Prosecution complaint filed in the Reliance Infrastructure matter

According to the ED, a prosecution complaint was filed on August 8 before the Special Court (PMLA) at Dwarka District Courts, New Delhi. The complaint names Reliance Infrastructure, Sateesh Seth (70), and others. The ED said the case relates to an alleged ₹187 crore money-laundering matter linked to four National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) toll-road projects. The agency stated the complaint was filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Allegations: shell companies, forged papers, and fund routing

The ED said its investigation exposed a scheme involving shell companies used to route funds. It also referred to alleged forged documents and rerouting of funds through non-existent transactions, including inflated diamond imports. The agency alleged that public funds connected to road projects were diverted using such arrangements. In its summary of the alleged mechanics, the ED pointed to subcontracting structures used to move money out of the project ecosystem.

NHAI projects and the alleged diversion route

The ED alleged that around ₹187 crore was diverted in September and October 2010 through sham, post-facto, and backdated subcontracting arrangements. It said the alleged diversion was linked to four highway projects awarded by NHAI. The agency also stated that shell companies and diamond traders were part of the routing structure described in the case. The ED’s narrative frames the alleged diversion as a systematic effort tied to projects financed by public funds.

Origins of the probe: the 2016 Mumbai EOW FIR

The ED said the probe is based on a 2016 FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Mumbai. That FIR triggered scrutiny into alleged use of shell companies and documentation to reroute funds. The ED’s filings, as described, rely on this earlier law-enforcement input to build the money-laundering case under PMLA. The investigation remains ongoing, with the ED stating it is examining the roles of other individuals.

Attachments and what has been publicly stated

The ED said assets worth ₹187 crore have been attached, and that the inquiry is continuing. Separately, Reliance Infrastructure has made multiple stock-exchange disclosures in 2026 relating to provisional attachment actions and confirmations under PMLA proceedings. These disclosures include attachments related to shareholdings in subsidiaries and listed holdings, and they reference an alleged violation period of 2017 to 2019. Reliance Infrastructure has said it plans to challenge certain orders through legal steps, and in one disclosure it stated there is no impact on business operations.

Key PMLA actions and amounts disclosed (2026)

Parallel Reliance group-linked case: Reliance Communications

Alongside the Reliance Infrastructure filing, the ED said it has also filed a supplementary complaint in the Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom) case. The agency described the two matters as separate money-laundering cases in which it has filed chargesheets. While details in the provided information are limited for the RCom matter, its mention signals that the ED’s action spans more than one RAAG-linked company.

Market impact: what investors can take away from the disclosures

The immediate market relevance is that Reliance Infrastructure has notified stock exchanges about attachment-related actions, including amounts of ₹762.75 crore, ₹1,575 crore, and ₹670.48 crore referenced in different orders or confirmations. The company has stated, in the context of an attachment confirmation, that there is no impact on its business operations. It has also said it is not satisfied with an attachment order and will take steps to challenge it to safeguard stakeholder interests. For shareholders and lenders, the disclosures indicate that restrictions on attached assets may remain until a final decision is taken in the matter, as described by the company.

Why the case matters: enforcement, public projects, and documentation trails

The ED’s allegations connect fund diversion to public infrastructure projects, which typically heightens scrutiny because project financing involves public funds and regulated counterparties. The investigation narrative places emphasis on paperwork, subcontracting arrangements, and routing through shell entities, which are common evidentiary threads in financial-misconduct probes. The filings also sit alongside multiple attachment-related disclosures in 2026, suggesting active PMLA proceedings on different asset buckets. The ED has said the investigation is ongoing and is focused on identifying other individuals involved.

Conclusion

The ED’s latest prosecution complaint against Reliance Infrastructure and others, linked to an alleged ₹187 crore diversion from four NHAI projects in 2010, marks a key procedural step before the Special PMLA Court in New Delhi. In parallel, Reliance Infrastructure’s 2026 exchange filings point to multiple attachment orders and confirmations under PMLA proceedings, with the company indicating plans to challenge certain actions. The next developments will depend on court proceedings on the prosecution complaint and the appellate path the company takes against attachment-related orders.