ED probes routed funds for overseas buys after Tina Ambani skips summons

Mumbai/New Delhi: Businesswoman and former actor Tina Ambani has skipped an Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons issued as part of an ongoing money-laundering investigation linked to the Reliance Anil Ambani Group, with officials indicating that a fresh notice will be issued soon.

Tina Ambani, wife of industrialist Anil Ambani, had been called for questioning by the federal probe agency earlier this week but did not appear before investigators on the scheduled date. Officials said the ED is expected to send another summons to secure her presence for examination under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The questioning relates to a wider probe into alleged financial irregularities and suspected laundering of funds amounting to roughly ₹40,000 crore tied to entities of the Reliance group. The agency has recently formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine multiple transactions, reportedly following directions from the Supreme Court, signalling that the investigation has entered a more intensive phase.

Sources familiar with the case said Tina Ambani was summoned to clarify aspects of a money trail linked to the purchase of a luxury condominium in Manhattan, New York, which is under scrutiny as part of the financial probe.

Investigators are examining whether funds associated with entities under investigation were routed through various channels before being used in overseas acquisitions.

The ED has also questioned or summoned other individuals connected with the group’s financial dealings, including senior executives linked to Reliance Communications and associated firms.

Earlier, the agency recorded statements and examined documents related to multiple transactions as it attempted to map the alleged flow of funds.

The ongoing inquiry forms part of a broader set of investigations into alleged loan defaults, diversion of borrowed funds, and suspected laundering across several Reliance-linked entities. Banks have previously flagged large outstanding dues from group companies, and enforcement agencies have attached assets worth thousands of crores as part of earlier action under anti-money-laundering laws.

Authorities maintain that the summons issued to Tina Ambani is part of routine questioning to gather evidence and clarify financial linkages, rather than an indication of guilt. Under Indian law, individuals summoned by the ED are required to provide statements and documents relevant to the investigation.

For now, the immediate next step appears procedural: investigators are expected to issue a fresh date for her appearance, after which questioning is likely to proceed as the agency continues piecing together the financial trail.

The development underscores the widening scope of the high-value probe into alleged financial misconduct linked to the Reliance Anil Ambani Group, with the ED intensifying its efforts to trace transactions, identify beneficiaries, and determine whether proceeds of crime were layered through domestic and overseas channels.

As the case evolves, further summons, statements, and possible legal actions are expected depending on the findings of the SIT’s investigation.