State Bank of India (SBI) has decided to classify the loan account of telecom firm Reliance Communications as “fraud” and to report the name of its director Anil Ambani to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Industrialist Anil Ambani’s legal team has written to the State Bank of India, objecting to the classification of Reliance Communications’ loan accounts as fraudulent. They argue that the move breaches RBI guidelines and defies court directives.

In a letter dated July 2, the counsel described SBI’s action as “shocking,” stating it was issued ex-parte and in violation of the principles of natural justice.

RCom Letter To SBI

SBI’s order is in direct contravention of various judgments of the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court, as well as RBI guidelines, the counsel said.

RCom in a filing to stock exchanges on Wednesday said that SBI is classifying its loan account as fraudulent, citing alleged diversion of funds in a case dating back to 2016.

SBI, the counsel said, has also not allowed Ambani an opportunity of personal hearing to make submissions against its allegations.

The counsel in the letter said SBI has not even responded to Ambani’s communication about the invalidity of the show cause notice (SCN) for almost a year, and has not even provided the information forming the basis of their decision despite being repeatedly requested to enable him to respond to the SCN.

SBI Withdraws Show Cause Notice

SBI has withdrawn the show cause notice to other non-executive and independent directors of RCom. Ambani was also a non-executive director and not involved in the day-to-day affairs of RCom, and has been wrongly so categorized, the counsel said, adding Ambani is pursuing the matter as legally advised.

“The Bank’s SCN dated December 20, 2023 had been issued prior to the revised RBI Master Directions dated July 15, 2024 which completely superseded the directions  under which the SCN had been issued (and which are no longer in existence), the Bank would need to withdraw the said SCN.

“Given the extended silence of almost one year on behalf of the Bank to this communication, our Client (Ambani) was under the bonafide belief that Bank has accepted our Client’s position in respect and did not intend to precipitate the matter,” it said.

(With Inputs From PTI)