Anil, ADAG get fresh SC notice as PIL alleges fraud | India News
NEW DELHI: With the Centre supporting a plea filed against alleged financial fraud and siphoning of funds by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), SC Friday directed CBI and ED to share with it the findings of their probe conducted so far against the group.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued fresh notice to Anil Ambani and ADAG after no one appeared on their behalf despite a notice being served to them. To ensure they are represented in proceedings, SC directed registrar general of Bombay HC to ensure notice is served.At the outset, SG Tushar Mehta told SC he was not opposing the petition and submitted that a forensic audit had revealed siphoning of funds, resulting in CBI registering the case. As no lawyer appeared for the group or Ambani, the court granted them one last chance to make an appearance and respond to the allegations.Advocate Prashant Bhushan, for the petitioner, told SC that the forensic audit report came in 2020 but no action was taken by banks or probe agencies for five years, and the case was registered only last year. He urged the court to seek a status report from ED and CBI.SC recorded that respondent No. 4 (ADAG) and respondent No. 5 (Anil Ambani) had been duly served but had “not entered appearance”. Giving them a final opportunity, court directed fresh notices, including through the Bombay HC registrar general, and sought a compliance report. It also directed ED and CBI to file status reports on their ongoing investigations and permitted sealed cover filings if probes were incomplete.
