<h1>ED opens ECIR expanding PMLA Section 3 money-laundering probe into telecom group over alleged loan diversions totalling thousands of crores</h1> The Enforcement Directorate has registered an ECIR expanding a money-laundering probe into a telecom group and its holding companies after a CBI complaint by a public sector bank alleging a loan loss of about Rs 2,929 crore; the CBI had conducted searches in late August. The ED's broader inquiry, which has included searches, questioning of current and former executives and the group chairman, builds on an earlier probe into alleged loan diversion of over Rs 17,000 crore across group firms and a separate alleged Rs 3,000 crore diversion involving another bank. The group says the allegedly implicated director was non-executive and proceedings against other non-executive directors were withdrawn.