The opposition claims that the central government 'misuses' investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate in the name of curbing corruption. The opposition also alleges that ED is used to fulfil 'political vendetta' and that most of the cases filed are not resolved. On Monday, the central government presented statistics in Parliament showing how many cases have been filed and how many ED cases have been resolved since the BJP government came to power in 2014.
The government informed Parliament that since 2014, ED has filed and is investigating a total of 6,444 money laundering cases. Chargesheets have been filed in 2,416 of these cases. Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) courts have convicted 121 people in 56 cases over these 11 years.
Also Read | IndiGo chaos continues: Here’s how to get your refund, hotel stay, and lost baggage
The central government also provided year-wise statistics, which showed that the rate of filing financial irregularity cases in 2025-26 has decreased significantly compared to the rate at which such cases were filed in 2021-22. According to the statistics, ED registered 1,116 PMLA cases in 2021-22, 996 in 2020-21, 953 in 2022-23, and 775 in 2024-25. In 2025-26, it has filed a total of 556 PMLA cases up to November.
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhury said in the Lok Sabha that from April 1, 2014 to November 30, 2025, PMLA special courts have delivered judgments considering the gravity of money laundering cases in 56 cases, in which conviction orders have been given in 53 cases, and 121 people have been convicted.'
Apart from ED, the Income Tax Department has also registered 13,877 cases during this period. Overall, since 2005, assets worth ₹1.70 lakh crore have been confiscated under PMLA in 8,100 cases.
