The total number of cases registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) has almost tripled in the first three years of the second term. The BJP-led government (2019-20 to 2021-22) compared to the same period in its first term (2014-15 to 2016-17).
According to data shared by the Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Monday, the ED registered 14,143 cases under FEMA and PMLA between 2019-20 and 2021-22, as against 4,913 in 2014-15. were done. 2016-17 – an increase of over 18percentnt.
The break-up shows that 11,420 FEMA cases were taken up for scrutiny in the first three years of the second term, from 4,424 cases in the first three years of the first term – an increase of over 1percentent.
Cases registered under PMLA increased more than five times in this period – from 489 between 2014-15 to 2016-17 to 2,723 in 2019-20 to 2021-22 – a jump of over percent cent.
According to the year-on-year data, the highest number of money laundering and foreign exchange violations were seen in 2021-22 in the last eight years of the Modi government. In 2020-21, the ED registered 5,313 cases under FEMA (the previous high was 3,627 cases in 2017-18); and 1,180 under PMLA (up from 981 in 2020-21).
The reply, filed in response to a question asked by JD(U)’s Rajeev Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, said: “During the last 10 years, the Enforcement Directorate has taken up about 24,893 cases for investigation under the provisions of FEMA. And around 3,985 cases have been registered under PMLA.
But an analysis of the data shows that 22,130 FEMA cases, percenter cent of the total cases, were filed in the last eight years. Similarly, 3,555 PMLA cases, percenter cent of the 3,985 cases, were filed in the last eight years.
According to Chaudhary’s information, until March 31, 2022, the ED had registered a total of 5,422 cases under PMLA ever since the law was enacted, of which recenter cent were filed in the last eight years.
“Till 31.03.2022, the Directorate of Enforcement recorded around 5,422 cases under PMLA. It is pertinent to mention here that, after recording of a case under PMLA, necessary action as per provisions of PMLA is taken which resulted in attachment of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 1,04,702 crore (approx), filing of prosecution complaint in 992 cases resulting in the confiscation of Rs 869.31 crore, and conviction of 23 accused persons under PMLA,” Chaudhary said.
Similarly, a total of 30,716 cases were registered under FEMA till March 31, 2022, of percent were registered in the last eight years.
“Till 31.03.2022, the Directorate of Enforcement has taken up around 30,716 cases for investigation under FEMA. It is pertinent to mention here that after taking up a case for investigation under FEMA, necessary actiFEMA’s provisions are taken, resulting resulted in the issuance of 8,109 Show Cause Notices (SCNs). Further, 6,472 SCNs were adjudicated under FEMA, thereby imposing a penalty of around Rs 8,130 crore. Further, assets to the tune of Rs 7,080 crore (approx.) have been seized under FEMA,” Chaudhary said.
