Since 2005, the ED has registered approximately 7,403 ECIRs under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The annual average of ECIRs recorded between July 2005 and March 2014 stood at 209, which declined to 159 between 2014-15 and 2018-19. However, from 2019-20 to 2024-25 the number increased nearly fivefold, with an annual average of 788 ECIRs.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is India’s premier investigative agency tasked with enforcing financial laws, including the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA), and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA). It plays a crucial role in investigating money laundering, bank frauds, financial scams, and foreign exchange violations. However, in recent years, the agency has faced criticism for alleged misuse of power, selective targeting, and a lack of transparency in its operations. Concerns have also been raised over its low conviction rates, leading to accusations that the process itself becomes a form of punishment. Against this backdrop, we examine key statistics on the ED’s performance. This can be seen as an update of our previous story on a similar topic, which can be read here.
ED’s average yearly ECIR registrations jump fivefold to 788 since 2019-20, up from 159 earlier.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) gathers information on predicate offences linked to money laundering from various sources. Once a reference or information is received, the agency conducts a preliminary verification before formally registering a case through an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR). This process follows a risk-based approach, considering factors such as the severity of the offence, its transnational nature, complexity, public interest, and resource availability.
Unlike an FIR (First Information Report), which must be shared with the accused under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), an ECIR is considered an internal document and is not legally required to be disclosed, as upheld by the Supreme Court in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs. Union of India.
Since 2005, the ED has registered approximately 7,403 ECIRs under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The annual average of ECIRs recorded between July 2005 and March 2014 stood at 209, which declined to 159 between 2014-15 and 2018-19. However, from 2019-20 to 2024-25 (till 31 December 2024), the number increased nearly fivefold, with an annual average of 788 ECIRs.
However, only 1587 Prosecution Complaints (PCs) have been filed under PMLA, 2002 since 2005. The average number of PCs filed between July 2005 and March 2014 stood at 9, which rose to 109 between 2014-15 and 2018-19. However, from 2019-20 to 2024-25 (till December 31, 2024), the number has increased further, with an annual average of 159 PCs.
Over ₹84,000 crore worth of properties attached under PMLA since 2012-13.
Sections 17 and 18 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) empower the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to search, seize, and freeze properties linked to money laundering. Under Section 17, the Director of ED or an authorized officer (not below the rank of Deputy Director) can search premises and seize records or property. If seizing the property is not practical, they can issue an order to freeze it, preventing any transfer. Section 18 gives ED officers the power to search individuals and seize any property found during the search.
When properties are seized or frozen under these sections, the ED must seek approval from the Adjudicating Authority, a quasi-judicial body with a Chairperson and two members. This authority decides whether the property is linked to money laundering. Once confirmed, the attachment is no longer just a temporary measure—it ensures that the accused cannot access the property.
As of 31 December 2024, the Adjudicating Authority has confirmed the attachment of properties worth ₹96,024.39 crores under the PMLA. Of this, more than ₹84,000 crores have been confirmed since 2012-13. The highest confirmed property attachment in a single year was in 2018-19, totalling ₹13,175 crores. This was followed by ₹11,237 crores in 2023-24, while 2024-25 recorded the third-highest attachment at ₹9,484 crores.
Miniscule proportion of ED cases are against people with political affiliation
The ED’s expanding authority, particularly after the 2019 amendment, has sparked controversy, with opposition parties accusing it of selective action, where investigations seem to depend more on political alignment than on legal merit. ED steps in under PMLA leading to a handful of high-profile arrests—just enough to stir public suspicion and shape the narrative.
Since 2014, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered 5,297 cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, only 40 cases have resulted in convictions, while 2 ended in acquittals.
The ED’s powers expanded significantly after the 2019 amendment, leading to a sharp rise in case registrations. Between 2014 and 2019, an average of 170 cases were registered each year. This number surged nearly fivefold to 855 cases per year between 2020 and 2024. Notably, 31 out of the 40 convictions happened after 2019.
Looking specifically at cases involving current and former MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and political leaders, the ED has registered 193 cases between 2015-16 and 2024-25, making up less than 5% of the total cases (though the time periods are different, it still gives a fair idea). Despite the high number of cases, only 2 convictions have been secured as of February 2025.
It’s interesting that there is no official data on how many ED cases have been filed against MPs, MLAs, and local leaders based on their political party or state. This is exactly why the ED faces criticism—many believe it targets some political leaders ‘selectively’ instead of acting fairly.
Lack of uniformity in the data on the performance of ED
A major criticism of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is its lack of transparency—from not disclosing ECIRs to selectively picking cases and failing to provide comprehensive data on investigations and convictions. Even the statistics on the ED’s official website are outdated, with the last update available only until 31 March 2023, nearly two years ago.
Similarly, the annual reports of the Department of Economic Affairs (Ministry of Finance) are inconsistent. Some years provide detailed data on ECIRs, Proceeds of Crime, and property attachments, while others leave out crucial information.
At a time when the ED faces growing criticism, it is more important than ever for the agency to restore public trust by ensuring transparency. Publishing uniform, updated, and detailed statistics on its operations would be a crucial step in addressing these concerns.
