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Key Points

The Enforcement Directorate has dramatically stepped up its anti-money laundering efforts over the past decade. Under the Modi government, ED has launched an average of 500 new investigations annually, significantly increasing its enforcement activities. In the financial year 2024-25, the agency filed 333 prosecution complaints and secured 34 individual convictions. These efforts align with the government's vision of creating an economically secure and transparent financial ecosystem in India.

Key Points: ED Reveals 5,113 Money Laundering Cases in Modi Era

  • ED initiated over 500 PMLA investigations annually since 2014
  • Provisional asset attachments reached Rs 30,036 crore in FY 2024-25
  • Achieved remarkable 93.6% conviction rate in money laundering cases
3 min read

ED filed 5,113 cases to curb money laundering in last 10 years: Official

Union Minister Pankaj Chaudhary highlights ED's crucial role in combating economic offenses and securing India's financial landscape

"No economic offender should be able to deprive the common and poor citizens of their rights - Narendra Modi"

New Delhi, May 1

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Thursday highlighted the key role that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has to play in ensuring an “economically secure India” as the country is headed to become a fully developed economy.

In his address at the ED's 69th Foundation Day celebration here, the Minister said: "The vision of a developed India inherently includes the vision of a secure India. The contribution of the Enforcement Directorate will be extremely important in an economically secure India.”

“The vision of our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is that no economic offender should be able to deprive the common and poor citizens of their rights, and prevention is essential for this as well as ensuring that the offender receives appropriate punishment. The role of the Enforcement Directorate is extremely important in both areas,” he added.

In his address on the occasion, ED Director Rahul Navin emphasised on the significant step-up in enforcement activity from 2014 to 2024, with 5,113 new PMLA investigations being initiated, averaging more than 500 cases per year.

Building on this momentum, Navin noted that in the Financial Year 2024-25, a total of 775 new PMLA investigations were launched, 333 prosecution complaints were filed, leading to 34 individual convictions.

During this period, Navin said that ED has issued 461 provisional attachment orders valued at Rs. 30,036 crore – a 44 per cent increase in the number of attachments and a striking 141 per cent rise in their total value compared to the previous year. As on 31st March, 2025, the total value of assets under provisional attachment stood at Rs 1,54,594 crore.

Navin also apprised the gathering that with the approval of the courts, restitution of Rs 15,261 crore was done in 30 cases during FY 2024-25 and this process is likely to accelerate in FY 2025-26.

“The ED has filed 333 prosecution complaints last year, taking the total cases under various stage of trial to 1,739 as on 31st March, 2025; and of the 47 cases decided so far, there have been only 3 acquittals, yielding a commendable conviction rate of 93.6 per cent,” Navin added.

In his address on the occasion, S.V. Raju highlighted the growing use of cryptocurrency and hawala traders as tools for Money Laundering (ML) and urged the ED officers to stay abreast of the changing ML scenarios and elaborated on the tools under PMLA.

On the occasion, Chaudhary also released the Annual Report for FY 2024-25.

The Minister also stated that as India is marching towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the nature of the economy and economic activities will also change, and complexities will also increase, which might result in the evolution of the nature of economic crimes. He emphasised the critical role the Enforcement Directorate will play in the future.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

Here are 8 diverse Indian perspective comments for the article:
R
Rajesh K.
Finally seeing some strong action against black money! The numbers speak for themselves - ₹1.54 lakh crore attached is no joke. Hope this continues with same intensity. 👏
P
Priya M.
While the conviction rate looks impressive, I worry about selective targeting. ED should ensure fairness across political parties and business groups. Transparency in case selection would build more trust.
A
Amit S.
The focus on cryptocurrency and hawala is much needed. These are becoming major loopholes for money laundering. ED officers need proper tech training to track digital transactions.
S
Sunita R.
₹15,261 crore restitution is good news! But how will this money reach common citizens? Government should create a transparent system to show how recovered money is being used for public welfare.
V
Vikram J.
ED's work is commendable but justice delayed is justice denied. 1,739 cases pending trial is too high. Need special courts to fast-track economic offenses. Our system moves at snail's pace!
N
Neha T.
As a small business owner, I appreciate crackdown on big financial crimes. But hope ED also looks at banking reforms to make legitimate transactions easier. Sometimes compliance is nightmare for honest taxpayers too.
K
Karan P.
The 141% increase in attachment value shows how deep corruption runs. But will this stop politicians from keeping black money in Swiss banks? Need global cooperation to bring back offshore wealth.

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