Over 1,700 ED money laundering cases await trial across India, says agency

Facing mounting scrutiny over delays in high-profile financial crime cases, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) revealed that over 1,700 money laundering cases are currently under trial across Indian courts.

According to ED Director Rahul Navin, the slow pace of these trials is largely due to systemic delays in the country's judicial process.

Despite the backlog, Navin pointed to the agency’s high conviction rate as a sign of its effectiveness.

“The conviction rate of ED cases was 93.6%, as out of 47 cases decided by courts till now, there have been only three acquittals,” he said at the ED Day event held on May 1.

At present, 1,739 cases filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) are in trial stages.

Navin acknowledged the backlog of investigations and emphasized the agency’s intention to expedite the process. He said the ED would work towards promptly filing chargesheets in pending cases.

Highlighting the agency's evolving strategy, Navin added that the ED will increasingly leverage advanced technology and forensic tools to enhance its investigative capabilities.

Marking its 69th year, the Enforcement Directorate—established on May 1, 1956—continues to enforce key financial crime laws, including the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), and civil provisions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).