Reliance Infra Charged in Rs 187 Cr NHAI Toll Road Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint against Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. (RIL) and other entities. This action, taken on August 8, 2026, concerns an alleged money laundering scheme involving Rs 187 crore from public funds.

Understanding the Allegations

Filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the complaint follows an investigation into an organized plan. This scheme was designed to divert public funds originating from four toll-road projects awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

These specific infrastructure projects received their funding through a combination of NHAI grants and loans secured from various banks. The ED’s inquiry revealed a structured diversion of funds across these critical national highway developments.

The Mechanism of Fund Diversion

The ED alleges that approximately Rs 187 crore was illicitly moved during September and October 2010. This diversion was executed through what the agency describes as sham, post-facto, and back-dated arrangements, falsely represented as payments for non-existent sub-contracting work.

The process involved a specific layering technique to obscure the origins and destinations of the money. Funds were reportedly transferred through multiple stages:

• From RIL or its project-specific Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and EPC contractors.
• To various construction contractors.
• Subsequently, to shell entities that had no connection to the actual road construction.

To formalize these illicit transfers, documents were later fabricated to retroactively legitimize the transactions. The diverted funds were then further layered through additional shell companies and various diamond traders, complicating their traceability.

Key Financials and Legal Actions

The ongoing investigation has led to significant legal and financial actions by the Enforcement Directorate. These measures aim to recover the diverted funds and hold those responsible accountable.

• Complaint Filing Date: August 8, 2026
• Alleged Diversion Amount: Rs 187 crore
• Alleged Diversion Period: September and October 2010
• Assets Provisionally Attached: Rs 187 crore
• Asset Attachment Date: August 3, 2026
• Individual Arrested: Sateesh Seth (June 12, 2026)

The provisional attachment on August 3, 2026, encompassed assets valued at approximately Rs 187 crore. These assets included immovable properties, equity shares of Reliance Power Ltd. held by Reliance Infrastructure Ltd., and land owned by Ksheeraabd Constructions Pvt. Ltd.

In connection with this case, Sateesh Seth was arrested on June 12, 2026, and currently remains in judicial custody. The Enforcement Directorate has stated that its investigation is continuing, with efforts focused on identifying all other individuals involved in this intricate money laundering network.