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.

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

Mayank Kumar - February 26, 2026

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 - February 26, 2026

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 - February 19, 2026

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.

Anil Ambani pledges cooperation in ED probe in loan fraud case, tells SC he’s ‘not a flight risk’

Ruchi Bhattar - February 19, 2026

Reliance Group chairman files an affidavit, saying he will not leave India without top court's nod. He adds he 'wasn't involved in day-to-day management/ops' of accused companies of group.

Ludhiana agent ‘settled’ 100 visa cases but bank shows no payouts—ED protests Punjab cops’ probe

Mayank Kumar - February 17, 2026

After most FIRs against a Ludhiana-based agent were quashed on compromise, ED questioned how complainants were paid when no matching transactions appeared in his accounts.

ED imposes Rs 184 cr fine on NewsClick, editor Purkayastha over ‘deliberate, systemic’ FEMA violations

Mayank Kumar - February 16, 2026

The firm misrepresented business to receive Rs 9.59 crore FDI in 2018-19, and violated forex, export reporting norms involving Rs 82.63 crore remittances, the agency said.

Baby bought for 4 lakh sold at 30 lakh: ED cracks open Secunderabad ‘surrogacy’ racket, finds millions

Mayank Kumar - February 14, 2026

ED claims newborns were procured from poor families, birth certificates forged, & childless couples charged up to Rs 30 lakh in a trafficking racket masked as surrogacy services.

ED charges ex-officer at centre of bribery case at its Shimla office. ‘Laundering of over Rs 1 crore’

Mayank Kumar - February 10, 2026

CBI had also charged the ED officer, arrested a year ago, of demanding bribes to give relief to two accused in a scholarship scam in Himachal Pradesh.

Alchemist insolvency proceedings were a ‘self-controlled loop’. How ED’s findings guided NCLT action

Mayank Kumar - February 6, 2026

Former Rajya Sabha MP Kanwar Deep Singh founded and headed the Alchemist group of companies.

Why the delay? SC raps ED, CBI for slow probe into Anil Ambani group loan fraud case

Bhadra Sinha - February 4, 2026

Anil Ambani cannot leave country without court's permission. SC bench asks ED to set up an SIT; CBI and ED directed to submit status reports on investigation every month.

Topic: Enforcement Directorate

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

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

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

Anil Ambani pledges cooperation in ED probe in loan fraud case, tells SC he’s ‘not a flight risk’

Ludhiana agent ‘settled’ 100 visa cases but bank shows no payouts—ED protests Punjab cops’ probe

ED imposes Rs 184 cr fine on NewsClick, editor Purkayastha over ‘deliberate, systemic’ FEMA violations

Baby bought for 4 lakh sold at 30 lakh: ED cracks open Secunderabad ‘surrogacy’ racket, finds millions

ED charges ex-officer at centre of bribery case at its Shimla office. ‘Laundering of over Rs 1 crore’

Alchemist insolvency proceedings were a ‘self-controlled loop’. How ED’s findings guided NCLT action

Why the delay? SC raps ED, CBI for slow probe into Anil Ambani group loan fraud case

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