Only 2.98% of MPs and MLAs have been charged with money laundering, according to ED statistics; the conviction rate is 96%

The ED was delegated with enforcing the rigorous provisions of the PMLA, enacted in 2002, from July 1, 2005.  The agency is authorized by law to summon, detain, seize the accused’s property during the investigation stage, and bring the offenders before a court of law.

The conviction rate under the anti-money laundering law is at a high of 96%, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) reported that only 2.98 percent of its overall ECIRs or complaints had been made against current or former MPs and MLAs.

According to data the ED filed a total of 176 Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs)  which is equal to a police FIR, against existing and ex MPs, MLAs and MLCs which comes to 2.98 percentage of the total 5,906 such complaints filed since the law came into being.

The agency issued 1,919 provisional attachment orders under the anti-money laundering statute, which resulted in the attachment of assets worth a total of Rs 1,15,350 crore.

Under the anti-money laundering statute, the agency has been looking into a number of high-profile individuals, including current chief ministers, prominent politicians, bureaucrats, business organisations, corporate entities, foreign nationals, and others.

The PMLA’s adjudicating authority confirmed 1,632 of these attachment orders, holding assets worth a total of Rs 71,290 crore, while 260 other attachment orders, holding assets worth a total of Rs 40,904 crore, were still awaiting confirmation.