Searches, convictions surge by 86 times

Oppn has alleged that the ED’s action during the last decade was part of the BJP-led Central government's “oppressive” tactics against its rivals

Searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the anti-money laundering law rose 86 times while arrests and attachment of assets jumped by around 25 times in the ten years since 2014 compared to the preceding nine-year period, according to official data.

Opposition parties have alleged that the ED's action during the last decade was part of the BJP-led central government's "oppressive" tactics against its rivals and others. The Union government and the ruling party, however, assert that the agency is independent and its investigations were purely based on merit.

An analysis of the data by PTI for the last ten years, between April 2014 and March 2024, against the nine years from July 2005 to March 2014 presents a picture of the federal agency's "intensified" action under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED booked as many as 5,155 PMLA cases during the last ten years as compared to a total of 1,797 complaints or Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs or FIRs) filed during the preceding period (2005-14), a jump of about three times.

The ED conducted 7,264 searches or raids in money laundering cases across the country during the 2014-2024 period as compared to just 84 in the preceding period - a jump of 86 times.

It also arrested a total of 755 people during the last decade and attached assets worth Rs1,21,618 crore. In the period between 2005 to 2014, 29 arrests were made and Rs5,086.43 crore worth assets attached.

The arrests are 26 times more, while assets attached have risen by 24 times.