New Delhi: A total of 132 money laundering cases have been lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against sitting and former MPs, MLAs, MLCs and political leaders since 2019, while there has been a conviction only in one case, the union ministry for finance has informed parliament on Tuesday (August 6).
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in response to a question by AAP MP Sanjay Singh, said that Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR)’s have been recorded by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against a total 132 sitting and former MPs, MLAs, MLCs and political leaders in this period.
The data provided by Chaudhary states that 15 cases were lodged in 2019, 28 in 2020, 26 in 2021, 34 in 2022, 26 in 2023 and 3 in 2024 as of July 31.
Of the total 132 ECIRs lodged, trials have been completed in only 5 cases while there has been a conviction only in one case.
The lone conviction, the data states was in 2020 but does not provide any further details.
State-wise data also shows that the total number of accused presently under arrest is the highest in Delhi. While 8 people were under arrest under PMLA in 2021, this rose to 12 in 2022, 32 in 2023 and 36 in 2024.
Jharkhand too has seen a rise among states, rising from 3 in 2021 to 7 in 2022, 22 in 2023 and 18 in 2024.
Data also shows that no accused are presently under arrest in the states and union territories of-Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry.
Also read: 5,297 Cases Registered Under PMLA Since 2014, Only 40 Convictions: Government Tells Lok Sabha
Opposition parties have accused the Narendra Modi government of “weaponsing” the ED and misusing central agencies against political opponents, while the prime minister has stated prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections that the ED works in an independent manner.
In September 2022, an investigation by The Indian Express in September 2022 revealed that there has been a four-fold jump in ED cases against politicians since 2014 when the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party first came to power.
In another written reply, provided by Chaudhary in response to a question by TMC MP Sagarika Ghose on Tuesday, the ministry of finance stated that a total of 7083 ECIRs have been recorded under the PMLA as of July 31.
“The rate of conviction obtained under PMLA is around ninety-three percent (93%),” the reply added.
Last year in March, the ED provided data to state that from 2005 to January 2023, it has registered 5,906 cases, of which only 25 cases, a mere 0.42% of the total cases have been disposed of to make the claim of a 96% conviction rate.
While Ghose had also sought state-wise data, Chaudhary stated that, “State-wise data is not maintained by the Enforcement Directorate.”
The ministry of finance however, informed the Lok Sabha on the same day that 5,297 cases have been registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) since 2014, and also provided state-wise data.
Chaudhary also stated in his reply that the total value of proceeds seized under PMLA is approximately Rs.3725.76 crore, frozen under PMLA is approximately Rs.4651.68 crore and attached under PMLA is approximately Rs.1,31,375 crore.
