NEW DELHI – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a total of 6,444 money laundering cases and 2,416 charge sheets against 16,404 individuals and entities since 2014, the government informed Parliament on Monday. The figures, covering more than a decade of investigations, were shared by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary during proceedings in the Lok Sabha.

According to the government, special courts established under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) have delivered judgments on 56 cases related to money laundering during this period, convicting 121 individuals. This reflects a conviction rate of approximately 94.64%, based on the total number of cases decided on merits.

The announcement also highlighted the ED’s proactive enforcement and investigation efforts. Since 2014, the agency has carried out 11,106 searches in connection with PMLA cases. Over the past few years alone, the ED conducted 2,600 searches in 2023-24, 2,317 in 2024-25, and 2,267 in the first eight months of the current financial year. These searches aim to detect and seize assets linked to financial crimes, with a focus on attaching proceeds of crime.

Charge Sheets and Individuals Involved

Out of the 2,416 charge sheets filed, 1,843 were main charge sheets and 573 were supplementary. Collectively, these charge sheets named 13,112 individuals and 3,292 companies, totaling 16,404 accused or entities facing legal proceedings.

The distribution of PMLA cases over the years shows consistent activity by the ED. In 2020-21, 996 cases were registered; 1,116 in 2021-22; 953 in 2022-23; 2,600 searches were conducted in 2023-24; 775 cases were registered in 2024-25; and 556 cases have already been filed in 2025-26, until the end of November.

Chaudhary emphasized the role of special PMLA courts in enforcing the law: “During the period from April 1, 2014, to November 30, 2025, the special courts of PMLA have delivered judgments on merits on the issue of money laundering in 56 instances, out of which conviction orders have been passed in 53 instances, convicting 121 accused. The conviction rate stands at 94.64% for cases decided on merits during this period.”

Asset Attachments and Strategic Focus

In recent years, the ED has realigned its strategy to focus more intensively on its core work: identifying, tracing, and attaching proceeds of crime. The agency’s efforts have led to the attachment of properties worth a record ₹30,000 crore in the financial year 2024-25. For the current financial year, between April and August 2025-26, attached properties are valued at ₹15,000 crore, with officials indicating that this figure could rise further by year-end.

Since the inception of PMLA in 2005, the ED has attached assets totaling ₹1.70 lakh crore across 8,100 cases. These measures are intended to prevent the misuse of illegally acquired wealth and ensure that proceeds of financial crimes are frozen and recovered, thus deterring future offences.

Comparison with Income Tax Department Enforcement

The government also provided data on the Income Tax (I-T) Department’s enforcement actions during the same period. Between 2014 and 2025, the I-T Department registered 13,877 cases and carried out 9,657 searches. In terms of prosecutions, the department filed 1,252 cases in 2016-17, 4,527 in 2017-18, and 3,512 in 2018-19. Subsequent years saw fluctuating numbers: 1,226 in 2019-20, 173 in 2020-21, 195 in 2021-22, 387 in 2022-23, 502 in 2023-24, 611 in 2024-25, and 271 in 2025-26 (until November).

Regarding judicial outcomes, 522 individuals were convicted, 963 acquitted, and 3,345 cases were withdrawn, highlighting the challenges and complexities of pursuing financial crime prosecutions.

Significance of ED’s Enforcement Efforts

The Enforcement Directorate’s sustained investigative activity reflects India’s broader approach to tackling financial crimes and money laundering. By targeting the proceeds of crime, the ED seeks not only to punish offenders but also to remove the financial incentives that underlie white-collar criminal activity. The agency’s focus on asset attachment represents a strategic shift in its operational methodology, aiming to disrupt criminal networks and recover illegally obtained resources.

Officials noted that the large-scale seizures in recent years also serve a deterrent function, sending a message to potential offenders about the government’s vigilance. High-value attachments in the tens of thousands of crores of rupees underscore the seriousness with which financial crimes are being pursued.

Looking Ahead

With more than a decade of data now in public record, Parliamentarians can examine both the successes and challenges of India’s financial crime enforcement landscape. While conviction rates in PMLA courts remain high, the relatively smaller number of cases compared to the total investigations indicates the complexity of prosecuting money laundering and financial fraud.

The ongoing efforts of the ED and I-T Department underscore a multi-pronged approach: investigative searches, filing of cases, prosecution through charge sheets, and attachment of assets. Together, these measures aim to create a comprehensive enforcement mechanism capable of deterring financial crimes, safeguarding the economy, and ensuring legal accountability.

The government’s disclosure on Monday highlights the scale of enforcement over the past 11 years and provides insight into India’s evolving strategy to curb money laundering, with a renewed focus on the recovery of illicit assets. As the financial year progresses, the ED’s performance in attaching and recovering assets will remain a key metric of its effectiveness in addressing economic offences.

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