Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank Fraud — HDIL Loan Fraud and Money Laundering Proceedings

Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are accused of orchestrating a massive fraud at Punjab National Bank's Brady House Branch in Mumbai by allegedly obtaining fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) without following due process, causing losses estimated between ₹13,000–14,500 crore to the bank. The CBI registered an FIR and has filed multiple chargesheets before a Special CBI Court in Mumbai — the ED has conducted parallel PMLA proceedings and attached assets worth over ₹18,000 crore. Both primary accused remain at large outside India: Nirav Modi is held in UK custody pending extradition, and Mehul Choksi was arrested in Belgium in 2025 with an Antwerp appellate court having cleared his extradition to India. The domestic trial before the Special CBI Court in Mumbai is ongoing, with supplementary chargesheets continuing to be filed as recently as March 2025.

Multi-crore Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank fraud involving Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited (HDIL) promoters Rakesh Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan. The bank had loaned approximately 70% of its deposits to HDIL in violation of RBI guidelines, resulting in massive loan defaults. Accused face charges under IPC sections and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The case involves parallel investigations by Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing and Enforcement Directorate.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before Rouse Avenue Courts, Delhi, naming Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, alleging laundering of proceeds of crime derived from the alleged fraudulent takeover of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) properties worth over ₹2,000 crore by Young Indian Pvt. Ltd. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Courts declined to take cognizance of the complaint in December 2025, holding it was not maintainable, while permitting the ED to continue its probe. The ED has challenged this order before the Delhi High Court, which issued notice to the accused on 22 December 2025. All persons named remain accused and are presumed innocent unless a court judgment holds otherwise.

The Supreme Court registered a suo motu case in October 2025 after a senior citizen couple from Haryana reported being defrauded of Rs 1.5 crore in a digital arrest scam. The Court issued 13-point directions to combat such scams nationwide, recognizing this as a widespread issue affecting multiple states and directing RBI, banks, and state authorities to implement urgent SOPs and cybercrime coordination mechanisms.

The ED filed a supplementary chargesheet against Reliance Communications Limited before a special court at Rouse Avenue. The case relates to alleged financial fraud involving the company.

The ED filed a prosecution complaint against Reliance Infrastructure Limited and former Reliance Group executive Sateesh Seth (70) in a Prevention of Money Laundering Act case. Seth was arrested by the ED in June 2025 and remains in judicial custody. The case was filed before a special PMLA court in Dwarka.