Reliance Power Plunges as ED, SEBI Probe Deepens Amidst Financial Crisis

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AuthorRiya Kapoor|Published at:
Reliance Power Plunges as ED, SEBI Probe Deepens Amidst Financial Crisis
Overview

Reliance Power's Q3 FY26 results show a staggering 99.11% YoY drop in consolidated PAT due to prior year gains, alongside a standalone net loss. The company faces severe headwinds from ongoing ED and SEBI investigations, subsidiary distress, and arbitration, casting a shadow over its outlook.

Reliance Power's Precarious Position: Steep PAT Fall, Standalone Loss, and Mounting Legal Battles

The Numbers

Reliance Power Limited reported consolidated Q3 FY26 revenue of ₹1,872.84 Cr, marking a marginal 1.08% year-on-year (YoY) increase but a 5.13% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) decrease. The company's consolidated Profit After Tax (PAT) witnessed a dramatic 99.11% YoY decline to ₹25.11 Cr for the quarter. This steep fall is primarily attributed to a significant exceptional gain of ₹3,23,042 Cr recognized on the deconsolidation of a subsidiary in the prior year's quarter. QoQ, PAT decreased by 71.36%. For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, consolidated PAT stood at ₹157.11 Cr, a 94.40% YoY drop.

On a standalone basis, Reliance Power reported a net loss of ₹0.67 Cr for Q3 FY26, a turnaround from a profit of ₹0.32 Cr in Q3 FY25. Standalone PAT for the nine months ended December 31, 2025, was ₹5.96 Cr, down 17.41% YoY.

The Quality and Financial Health

Standalone financial health indicators for Q3 FY26 reveal extreme strain. The company registered a critically low Current Ratio of 0.16, indicating an inability to meet short-term obligations with current assets. The Interest Service Coverage Ratio (ISCR) stood at 0.97, below the crucial benchmark of 1, signaling distress in servicing debt obligations. The Operating Margin was a deeply negative (191%), highlighting severe operational challenges and losses from core business activities.

Furthermore, subsidiary Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Limited (RSTEPL) auditors have raised significant concerns. They flagged non-compliance with impairment rules for assets worth ₹42,398 Cr, noted continued losses, defaults on lender repayments, negative net worth, weak liquidity, and cast doubt on its going concern status. Auditors qualified their review reports for RSTEPL.

The Grill: Mounting Legal and Regulatory Battles

The company is engulfed in multiple serious legal and regulatory challenges that cast a long shadow over its operations and future prospects. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a Supplementary Prosecution Complaint concerning the SECI fake bank guarantee matter, leading to the arrest of a former Key Managerial Personnel. The ED had previously attached assets, including 'Reliance Centre' and wind power assets. Concurrently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has initiated a forensic audit into alleged violations of securities laws and the Companies Act.

Adding to the woes, Samalkot Power Limited (SMPL), a subsidiary, is involved in arbitration proceedings in the London Court of International Arbitration against a lender who invoked a guarantee demanding ₹1,66,252 Cr. SMPL disputes the claim. Management's stated confidence in meeting liabilities through asset monetization must be viewed against these severe, ongoing, and multifaceted crises which pose substantial execution and financial risks.

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