A special CBI court on Tuesday granted bail on medical grounds to Amitabh Jhunjhunwala, the former managing director of Reliance Communications (RCom) Group. Jhunjhunwala was arrested in connection with a multi-crore State Bank of India (SBI) loan fraud case.
Medical Conditions Cited for Bail
Special Judge Nitin V Jiwane approved Jhunjhunwala's bail plea, acknowledging his severe and deteriorating health. His legal team, including advocates Aabad Ponda, Rahul Agarwal, and Jasmine Purani, highlighted conditions such as unresolved spinal fractures, peripheral osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and coronary artery disease.
The defense argued that these ailments necessitated continuous medical rehabilitation, which could not be adequately provided within judicial custody. The court noted that his medical state remained unchanged since a prior Delhi High Court ruling.
Previous Bail in Linked Case
This decision follows a Delhi High Court order on September 22, which granted Jhunjhunwala regular bail in a related money-laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The High Court had then deemed him "sick or infirm," emphasizing that his condition required specialized treatment beyond mere medication, involving sustained rehabilitation and supervision over time.
Details of the SBI Loan Fraud Allegations
The CBI's case against Jhunjhunwala stems from an August 2025 complaint filed by the State Bank of India against Reliance Communications and other entities. The complaint alleged a criminal conspiracy, cheating, and criminal breach of trust, leading to an initial wrongful loss of ₹2,929.05 crore to the bank.
According to the CBI, a ₹1,200-crore loan was disbursed in August 2016, purportedly based on asset-sale plans to Brookfield. This loan later became a non-performing asset, resulting in an alleged wrongful loss of ₹970.25 crore. The agency claims that Jhunjhunwala, who held significant control over corporate finance and banking operations within the Anil Ambani-led group, actively participated in the alleged diversion and round-tripping of borrowed funds.
Bail Conditions
The special CBI court granted Amitabh Jhunjhunwala bail against a personal recognisance bond of ₹1 lakh. He is also required to furnish one or two local sureties for the same amount.