The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has lodged a total of 132 money laundering cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against current and former lawmakers and political leaders since 2019. Despite the significant number of cases, there has been only one conviction, according to a recent statement from the Union Ministry of Finance to Parliament.
The information, disclosed on August 6, reveals that the Enforcement Directorate has been actively pursuing cases involving sitting and former Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs), and political leaders over the past five years. The data, presented in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, highlights the year-by-year breakdown of cases. In 2019, 15 cases were initiated; this number increased to 28 in 2020, 26 in 2021, 34 in 2022, 26 in 2023, and 3 in 2024 up to July 31.
Of the 132 Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) filed, only five trials have been concluded. The lone conviction recorded was in 2020, although further details on this case were not provided
State-wise data shows a notable concentration of arrests in Delhi. The number of individuals under arrest in Delhi has risen sharply from 8 in 2021 to 36 in 2024. Jharkhand also experienced an increase in arrests, rising from 3 in 2021 to 18 in 2024.
In contrast, no accused individuals are currently under arrest in several states and union territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
The opposition parties have criticized the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of using the ED as a political weapon against its rivals. The Prime Minister, however, has maintained that the ED operates independently. A prior investigation by The Indian Express in September 2022 indicated a dramatic increase in ED cases against politicians since the BJP-led government took power in 2014.
In addition to the specific data on cases involving politicians, the Ministry of Finance revealed that a total of 7,083 ECIRs have been recorded under the PMLA as of July 31. Despite a stated 93% conviction rate, the credibility of this figure is questioned by previous data, which showed only a 0.42% disposal rate of the cases registered from 2005 to January 2023.
The ministry also reported substantial financial figures related to the PMLA: approximately Rs. 3,725.76 crore in proceeds have been seized, Rs. 4,651.68 crore frozen, and Rs. 1,31,375 crore attached. This underscores the scale of financial activity under scrutiny by the ED, even as convictions remain rare.