Kapil Raj’s corporate appointment is expected to bolster RIL’s compliance and regulatory strategy, given his extensive experience in financial investigations, anti-money laundering frameworks, and policy enforcement.
Kapil Raj, a high-profile Enforcement Directorate (ED) official known for handling some of India’s most politically sensitive cases, has joined Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) after opting for voluntary retirement from government service.
A 2009-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Kapil Raj served as Joint Director at the ED and led several high-stakes investigations during his 16-year career in public service. He officially resigned from the Indian government on July 17, 2025, citing personal reasons, as per an official communication from the Ministry of Finance. At the age of 45, Raj is now taking a significant step into the corporate world by joining India’s largest conglomerate by market capitalization.
Raj gained national recognition for spearheading major investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Most notably, he supervised the arrests of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who was arrested in a high-profile land scam case. Both arrests made national headlines and cemented his reputation as a no-nonsense enforcement officer.
Raj’s joining Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) highlights a growing trend of top government officials moving to major private companies. RIL, India’s largest company by market value, has seen other notable additions like K.V. Chowdary, former CBDT Chairman, now serving as an Independent Director. Recently, Dinesh Kanabar, a well-known Chartered Accountant and founder of Dhruva Advisors, also joined RIL’s board. His deep knowledge of tax and regulations adds significant value to the company’s leadership and strategic direction.
A 2009-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Kapil Raj served as Joint Director at the ED and led several high-stakes investigations during his 16-year career in public service. He officially resigned from the Indian government on July 17, 2025, citing personal reasons, as per an official communication from the Ministry of Finance. At the age of 45, Raj is now taking a significant step into the corporate world by joining India’s largest conglomerate by market capitalization.
Raj gained national recognition for spearheading major investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Most notably, he supervised the arrests of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who was arrested in a high-profile land scam case. Both arrests made national headlines and cemented his reputation as a no-nonsense enforcement officer.
Raj’s joining Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) highlights a growing trend of top government officials moving to major private companies. RIL, India’s largest company by market value, has seen other notable additions like K.V. Chowdary, former CBDT Chairman, now serving as an Independent Director. Recently, Dinesh Kanabar, a well-known Chartered Accountant and founder of Dhruva Advisors, also joined RIL’s board. His deep knowledge of tax and regulations adds significant value to the company’s leadership and strategic direction.
This career shift not only highlights the private sector’s growing demand for top government talent, but also signifies how bureaucrats with investigative backgrounds are playing key roles in shaping corporate governance in India.
