The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a second supplementary charge sheet in the Reliance Communications Limited (RCom) case, accusing Reliance ADA Group Managing Director Amitabh Jhunjhunwala of criminal conspiracy, criminal misappropriation and cheating, allegedly causing a loss of over Rs 971 crore to the State Bank of India (SBI).
The supplementary charge sheet, filed before the Special Judge for CBI Cases, is based on the agency's investigation into the alleged fraud involving RCom and Reliance Infratel Limited.
According to the CBI, Jhunjhunwala, who held a key position in the group, allegedly acted as part of a criminal conspiracy to cheat SBI by dishonestly and fraudulently availing a term loan of Rs 1,200 crore for RCom and Reliance Infratel.
The companies allegedly failed to repay the loans, resulting in a wrongful loss of around Rs 971.25 crore to SBI, the agency said.
The CBI registered the case following a complaint by SBI. According to the FIR, the total exposure of Indian public sector banks and financial institutions in the matter stands at Rs 19,694.33 crore.
The agency had earlier filed its first charge sheet on May 29 against 16 accused, including RCom, five senior executives of the company and 10 bank officials.
It subsequently filed a supplementary charge sheet against Netizen Engineering P Limited and its directors, Anil Jamna Kalya and Tunu Sahu.
With the latest charge sheet against Jhunjhunwala, a total of 20 accused have now been booked in the case.
The CBI said further investigation is continuing into other accused persons and other aspects of the case.
The agency has registered eight FIRs against RCom, Reliance Home Finance Limited, Reliance Commercial Finance Limited and Reliance Telecom Limited based on complaints received from various public sector banks, LIC and the EPFO.
The CBI has so far arrested seven accused persons in the Reliance ADA Group cases, all of whom are currently in judicial custody.
The Supreme Court is monitoring the investigation into the cases.
