Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids and property seizures witnessed a massive surge under the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) compared to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), as per the data.

ED raids under the Prevention Money Laundering Act (PMLA) have increased by 86 times in the last 10 years. During this period, the number of property seizures has also increased by 25 times.

These figures on ED’s operations were analyzed by the news agency PTI. The report of this study compares the data from April 2014 to March 2024 with that from July 2005 to March 2014.

The opposition has been vocally alleging that the current government is misusing the ED to suppress their voices.

Cash, property, and accused held in ED raids

It is noteworthy that PMLA was enacted in 2002 and came into force on July 1, 2005. This law was implemented to prevent tax evasion, seize black money, unaccounted wealth, etc.

The ED had registered 5,155 cases during the 10 years of the NDA government, while this figure was 1,797 during the previous decade-long rule of the UPA government.

ED conducted 7,264 raids in money laundering cases during the NDA tenure, while this number during the previous government was only 84.

In the previous financial decade, the ED had obtained court permission to seize property worth ₹15,710.96 cr. It arrested 755 people and seized property worth ₹1.21 lakh cr during this tenure. While the number of arrests during the previous government stood at a mere 29, the amount seized was also only ₹5,086 cr.

ED seized ₹2,310 cr in cash under the PMLA in the last decade. While only ₹43 lakh of cash was seized during the previous UPA government.

The ED has successfully extradited four accused to India. Similar proceedings are underway against the likes of Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Sanjay Bhandari, and their extradition is awaited.

The ED has issued 24 red notices to Interpol in the last decade, with no such condition arising in the previous government.

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