Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani was questioned by the ED for about nine hours on Thursday in connection with a money-laundering probe against Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor and others, officials said.
The industrialist was called again for a similar round ofgrilling on March 30.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recorded the statement ofAmbani (60) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), after heappeared at the central agency’s office in Ballard Estate here at around 9:30am, the officials said, adding that he left the ED office around 7 pm. AReliance Group spokesperson said Ambani met ED officials “to clarify onthe group’s exposure to Yes Bank”.
Ambani’s nine group companies that are reportedly under”stress” are stated to have taken loans adding up to about Rs 12,800crore from the crisis-ridden bank.
The agency has also sent a second summons to Essel Groupchairman and Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra to appear before it on March 21.Chandra was supposed to appear before the agency on March 18, but skipped itsaying he was occupied in the ongoing Parliament session.
The action of the agency in the case was initiated soonafter the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a moratorium on Yes Bank earlierthis month, restricting withdrawals to Rs 50,000 per depositor as it raided andarrested Kapoor.
Normal banking operations for the bank’s customers restartedon Wednesday.
The ED has accused Kapoor, his family members and others oflaundering “proceeds of crime” worth Rs 4,300 crore by receivingkickbacks in lieu of extending big loans through their bank that allegedlyturned non-performing assets (NPAs) subsequently.