Bank of Baroda Joins SBI, BoI in Declaring RCom, Anil Ambani Loans as Fraud
Moneylife Digital Team 05 September 2025
In a major development, Bank of Baroda (BoB) has classified the loan accounts of Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom) and its former director Anil Dhirajlal Ambani as ‘fraud’, making it the third state-run lender to take such action against the debt-laden telecom company and its promoter.
 
The decision was conveyed through a letter dated 2 September 2025, and disclosed by RCom in a stock exchange filing on Thursday. 
 
BoB’s zonal office committee says it had considered submissions made by RCom and Mr Ambani but found 'no merit' in their arguments before concluding that the accounts qualified as fraud under the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) master directions on fraud risk management.
 
The Bank further stated that the fraud classification will be reported to the RBI and other statutory authorities, with penal consequences under the regulatory framework.
 
This action pertains to loans extended before RCom entered the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) in June 2019. At present, RCom is under the management of resolution professional Anish Niranjan Nanavaty, with a resolution plan approved by its committee of creditors and awaiting clearance from the national company law tribunal (NCLT).
 
In its exchange filing, RCom asserted that the loans in question must be dealt with as part of the resolution plan or liquidation under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The company says it would seek legal advice, emphasising that the ongoing CIRP protects it from fresh suits or proceedings, including the enforcement of judgments or orders.
 
Anil Ambani, who stepped down as director of RCom years ago, was explicitly named in BoB’s notice in his capacity as the company’s former promoter and director.
 
BoB’s move follows similar actions by two other major public sector banks. In June, State Bank of India (SBI) tagged RCom’s loan accounts as fraudulent. Soon after, on 24 August 2025, Bank of India (BoI) also classified the company’s accounts as fraudulent and included Ambani in its order.
 
BoI had disclosed that RCom’s loan account turned non-performing on 30 June 2017, with an outstanding of Rs724.78 crore. It also flagged loans of Reliance Telecom Ltd (RTL), an RCom subsidiary, as fraudulent, citing unpaid dues of Rs51.77 crore.
 
With BoB joining SBI and BoI, at least three major state-run banks have now categorised RCom and Ambani’s accounts as fraud, tightening the noose around the group.
 
Separately, directorate enforcement (ED) is probing alleged loan fraud involving Anil Ambani-led entities, including Reliance Housing Finance, RCom, and Reliance Commercial Finance. Reports indicate the ED has sought details from 12 to 13 banks about loans linked to these companies, with the suspected fraud amount estimated at nearly Rs17,000 crore.
 
The regulatory action is expected to have a bearing on the ongoing insolvency resolution of RCom and could also shape the banking sector’s larger efforts to tackle non-performing assets (NPAs).
 
RCom, once among India’s largest telecom players, is based in Navi Mumbai and has been undergoing insolvency proceedings since mid-2019. Its financial collapse has been one of the most high-profile failures in India’s telecom sector, and the fraud classification by three of India’s largest public lenders marks another low in its troubled history.
 
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Comments
pentaserviceinc
6 months ago
Nothing will happen to anil ambani or his henchmen. Even if CBI and ED make then accused in the case, they will fight it in the courts. They will continue taking loans and diverting the money to their own accounts. The law doesn't punish the rich. And Anil ambani has tonnes of money siphoned off in personal accounts to fight endless court battles.
ablesh.k.tripathi
6 months ago
Union bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank will classify Anil Ambani as fraud in all likelihood.. they too took haircuts due to diversion of loans..

Is this the money which was used to repay 5000 cr debt of RInfra.. the credit of which was given to Jai Anmol Ambani.

Why can’t banks claim on promoter groups holdings in RInfra and RPower; and handover the management to professionals. Atleast there will be some recovery. Anil Ambani has 2 prime residential properties in Mumbai which can also be sold or taken over.. same way Yes Bank took control of Reliance Group HQ in Santa Cruz.

Putting Anil Ambani in jail along with his cronies Amitabh jhunjhunwala and Sateesh Seth should also include taking over their properties. Otherwise Anil Ambani will remain a Seth and banks will be holding the Jhunjhuna.
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