The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached assets worth Rs 3,034.9 crore in connection with the Reliance Communications (RCom) bank fraud case, taking the total value of assets linked to investigations involving the Reliance Anil Ambani Group to over Rs 19,344 crore.

The action has been carried out under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), with the agency stating that the move is aimed at preventing the dissipation of assets and safeguarding the interests of lenders and the public.

The case is being examined by a special investigation team set up on the directions of the Supreme Court of India, focusing on alleged diversion and laundering of funds within the group.

The probe stems from multiple FIRs registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation following complaints by major financial institutions, including the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and Life Insurance Corporation of India.

According to investigators, RCom and its affiliated entities had secured loans from domestic and international lenders, with outstanding dues amounting to approximately Rs 40,185 crore.

Among the assets attached are high-value properties linked to the promoter group, including a residential flat in Mumbai’s Usha Kiran building, a farmhouse in Khandala near Pune, and land in Sanand, Ahmedabad. The agency has also attached 7.71 crore shares of Reliance Infrastructure held through a group entity associated with a private family trust.

The ED alleged that certain assets were structured in a manner intended to shield them from liabilities arising from personal guarantees extended by Anil Ambani to lenders. It claimed these properties were meant for the benefit of the promoter family rather than for recovery by banks whose loans later turned non-performing assets.

Under the legal framework of the PMLA, such attached assets can eventually be restored to legitimate claimants, including banks that have suffered losses, following due process.

The agency said investigations are ongoing as it continues efforts to trace and secure assets linked to alleged financial irregularities in the case.

With IANS inputs

Google has announced that users in India can now store Aadhaar-based verifiable credentials in Google Wallet, enabling secure and convenient identity verification for a range of everyday services.

The feature, developed in collaboration with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), allows individuals to confirm their identity directly from their devices without relying on physical documents. It is designed with privacy safeguards such as selective disclosure, ensuring that only the necessary information is shared when required.

According to the company, the new capability can be used for purposes such as age verification at entertainment venues and facilitating trusted interactions across digital platforms. Early partners include PVR INOX for age checks and rewards, BharatMatrimony for verified profiles, and Atlys for simplifying international visa applications.

Additional collaborations are expected, with Mygate planning to use the system for verifying delivery and service personnel, and Snabbit exploring its use for trust-based checks within the gig economy.

Google said security, privacy and interoperability are central to the rollout, with the technology aligned to global standards for digital identity.

The company also highlighted similar developments in other markets, noting that users in countries such as Singapore, Taiwan and Brazil can now create digital ID passes linked to passport data and store them in Google Wallet for both online and in-person verification.

Digital identification tools are increasingly being positioned as a simpler alternative to physical documents, offering quick access and improved convenience.

Separately, Google said it has expanded its AI-powered Search Live feature worldwide, allowing users to engage in real-time, voice- and camera-based interactions. The update is supported by its latest model, Gemini 3.1 Flash Live, which the company says enables more natural and multilingual conversations.

With IANS inputs

China has stepped in to halt the proposed acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus by US technology group Meta, underscoring growing scrutiny over foreign involvement in advanced domestic technologies.

The country’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced on Monday that it would prohibit the foreign takeover of Manus, although it did not explicitly name Meta.

Al Jazeera reported that the intervention reflects rising concern in Beijing about the transfer of Chinese-developed AI expertise and intellectual property to overseas buyers, particularly from the United States.

The legal basis for overturning the deal remains unclear, especially given that Manus is headquartered in Singapore. It is also uncertain how regulators would unwind a transaction that has already been completed.

Manus, originally founded with Chinese ties but now operating from Singapore, develops general-purpose AI agents capable of carrying out complex tasks with minimal human input. The company has positioned itself as a player in next-generation automation tools.

In a brief statement, the NDRC said its decision was made in accordance with national laws and regulations. Meta, headquartered in California, responded by stating that the acquisition complied with all relevant legal requirements and that it expected a satisfactory outcome following discussions with regulators.

The dispute has drawn attention in Washington as well. A spokesperson for the White House said the US administration would continue to protect American technology firms from what it described as inappropriate foreign interference.

Meta first revealed plans to acquire Manus in December, in what was seen as an unusual move by a major US technology company to purchase an AI business with strong links to China. The acquisition was expected to bolster Meta’s artificial intelligence capabilities across its platforms.

At the time, Meta said the deal would eliminate any ongoing Chinese ownership in Manus and that the company would cease its operations within China.

However, Chinese authorities indicated in January that they would review whether the acquisition aligned with domestic regulations. The scrutiny followed a series of restructuring steps by Manus. After raising $75 million in a funding round led by US venture capital firm Benchmark in May 2025, the company shut its offices in China and laid off staff before shifting operations to Singapore.

This relocation allowed its parent company, Butterfly Effect, to re-establish itself outside China, potentially avoiding both US investment restrictions on Chinese AI firms and Chinese controls on the overseas transfer of technology and capital.

China’s attempt to block the deal comes shortly before a planned summit in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May, adding another layer of tension to an already complex technological rivalry between the two countries.The intervention reflects rising concern in Beijing about the transfer of Chinese-developed AI expertise and intellectual property to overseas buyers, particularly from the United States.

The legal basis for overturning the deal remains unclear, especially given that Manus is headquartered in Singapore. It is also uncertain how regulators would unwind a transaction that has already been completed.

Manus, originally founded with Chinese ties but now operating from Singapore, develops general-purpose AI agents capable of carrying out complex tasks with minimal human input. The company has positioned itself as a player in next-generation automation tools.

In a brief statement, the NDRC said its decision was made in accordance with national laws and regulations. Meta, headquartered in California, responded by stating that the acquisition complied with all relevant legal requirements and that it expected a satisfactory outcome following discussions with regulators.

The dispute has drawn attention in Washington as well. A spokesperson for the White House said the US administration would continue to protect American technology firms from what it described as inappropriate foreign interference.

Meta first revealed plans to acquire Manus in December, in what was seen as an unusual move by a major US technology company to purchase an AI business with strong links to China. The acquisition was expected to bolster Meta’s artificial intelligence capabilities across its platforms.

At the time, Meta said the deal would eliminate any ongoing Chinese ownership in Manus and that the company would cease its operations within China.

However, Chinese authorities indicated in January that they would review whether the acquisition aligned with domestic regulations. The scrutiny followed a series of restructuring steps by Manus. After raising $75 million in a funding round led by US venture capital firm Benchmark in May 2025, the company shut its offices in China and laid off staff before shifting operations to Singapore.

This relocation allowed its parent company, Butterfly Effect, to re-establish itself outside China, potentially avoiding both US investment restrictions on Chinese AI firms and Chinese controls on the overseas transfer of technology and capital.

China’s attempt to block the deal comes shortly before a planned summit in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May, adding another layer of tension to an already complex technological rivalry between the two countries.