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Tuesday, March 17, 2026
TopicEnforcement Directorate

Topic: Enforcement Directorate

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is a central agency working directly under the Ministry of Finance, tasked with investigating and enforcing laws related to financial offenses. Its origin goes back to 1 May, 1956, when an Enforcement Unit was formed in the Department of Economic Affairs for handling Exchange Control Laws violations under Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947. The following year, this Unit was renamed as Enforcement Directorate.

The ED’s mandate encompasses investigating offenses under significant legislative frameworks such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999 (FEMA), and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act of 2018 (FEOA). The agency investigates individuals and entities involved in financial wrongdoing. This may include tracing illicit funds, seizing assets acquired through illegal means, and prosecuting offenders to ensure accountability and deterrence.

Headquartered in New Delhi, the ED operates through a network of regional offices in Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kolkata.

After CBI, now ED seeks expunction of trial court’s remarks while discharging Kejriwal. What HC said

Khadija Khan -
HC issues notice to Arvind Kejriwal & 22 others discharged by trial court in excise policy case. ED says trial court made remarks against it even though it was not party to case.

After 2019 polls, YSRCP govt junked automated liquor supply system to favour firms paying ‘kickbacks’—ED

Samridhi Tewari -
The agency made the allegations on Friday after announcing the attachment of movable and immovable assets worth Rs 441.63 crore belonging to three prime accused.

‘Assumption of jurisdiction’—Why Delhi court junked ED chargesheet in UPA-era coal block allocation case

Mayank Kumar -
Special CBI judge holds prosecution’s case ‘self-contradictory and self-destructive’ after finding no nexus between share allotment and coal block fraud.

‘Tech support’ made US woman move $6.5 million to ‘Federal Reserve’ account. It was a scam run from NCR

Mayank Kumar -
California resident Michele Finch's millions landed in Hong Kong-based bank accounts controlled by businessmen allegedly running a fake call centre from NCR that duped foreign nationals.

Sugar mills, Pawars, petitions, ED & EOW probe—the many twists & turns in Rs 25,000 crore MSCB ‘scam’

Kasturi Walimbe -
As a special court accepted closure report filed by Economic Offences Wing, it weakens Enforcement Directorate's parallel money-laundering probe against big names in Maharashtra.

‘Inspired’ by Special 26, aided by help. Fake ED raid targets Delhi couple, real ED lawyer-kin saved them

Samridhi Tewari -
Rekha had been working for them for 3 years, gaining trust & access. She planned 'raid' for 5 months with eye on their money, & roped in an ITBP personnel & a retired armyman, both her kin. 

Judge Jitendra Singh’s thrust on liberty, fair polls—Kejriwal case to Kapil Mishra tweets

Ruchi Bhattar -
Closer look at judge's record at Rouse Avenue shows consistency: scrutiny of prosecutors' conduct, insistence on constitutional safeguards & reminders that agencies are bound by rule of law.

Aircel-Maxis case: ED moves to revive trial against Chidambaram, submits prosecution sanction to court

Mayank Kumar -
Prior sanction to prosecute public servants under PMLA became mandatory after 2024 SC ruling. Trial against Chidambaram has remained stalled since he challenged it citing the verdict.

ED, CBI crack whip on Anil Ambani: Questioning, raids & attachment of Mumbai home, all in 24 hours

Mayank Kumar -
Fresh CBI FIR was based on complaint by Bank of Baroda alleging RCOM and Anil Ambani caused the bank a loss of around Rs 2,223 crore between 2013 and 2017.

Bengal I-PAC raid: ED defends its Article 32 writ in SC as ‘guardian of citizens’ fundamental rights’

Bhadra Sinha -
In joint rejoinder submitted in response to counter filed by Mamata, agency said it has approached top court in capacity of parens patriae, as guardian of fundamental rights of citizens.
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