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While senior officers of the directorate maintain that it sees neither political colour nor bureaucratic power and acts strictly where action is due, critics argue the pattern of scrutinising only opposition leaders is hard to ignore
Businessman Robert Vadra arrives at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office for questioning in a land deal-linked money laundering case. (PTI)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is on a roll. From summoning businessman and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi’s husband Robert Vadra in connection with a money-laundering and land deal case to filing a prosecution complaint naming Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, from attaching over 700 acres worth Rs 1,400 crore in the Sahara India benami property case to successful restitution of over Rs 500 crore in the Rose Valley chit fund scam—the central agency’s rise continues, albeit with controversies and allegations of “political vendetta”.
After a brief lull, the ED has yet again emerged as one of India’s most controversial yet arguably most active investigative agencies, simultaneously commanding public attention and raising political eyebrows.
Since April 12, the directorate has made significant progress in two crucial cases. First, the National Herald case in which Sonia Gandhi has been named as the prime accused and Rahul Gandhi has been named as accused number 2. In another case, the directorate yet again summoned Robert Vadra in connection with the Haryana land deal and money laundering case. A senior officer of the directorate said the agency has collected “impeccable” evidence in both cases and there is “no way” that these cases would fall flat before the court, even if challenged by the Congress.
Exposing Rot or Settling Scores?
In a statement explaining the attachments made in the National Herald case, the directorate stated, “These properties were attached after extensive investigation by ED which revealed significant generation, possession and use of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 988 crore.”
It added: “Therefore, to secure the proceeds of crime and to prevent the accused form dissipating the same, the immovable properties of AJL located at Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow valued at Rs 661 crore alongwith the shares of AJL valued at 90.2 crore were attached by issuing provisional attachment order.”
From naming Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in its prosecution complaint, better known as chargesheet, in the National Herald case, to summoning Rabri Devi and Lalu Prasad in the Bihar land-for-jobs scam, the Enforcement Directorate has kept its focus firmly on the politically powerful.
It is also probing former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son in the state’s alleged liquor policy scam, while investigating Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah’s family in the MUDA land row. From the Opposition’s point of view, the directorate is only scrutinising leaders not belonging to the ruling party at the Centre.
While senior officers of the directorate maintain that it sees neither political colour nor bureaucratic power and acts strictly where action is due, critics argue the pattern is hard to ignore.
Instrument of Reform
In a significant development in a substantial defrauding and money laundering case, the ED on Tuesday attached land measuring 707 acres in and around Amby Valley City, Lonavala, with approximate market value of Rs 1,460 crore in connection with the case of Sahara India and its group entities. This land was purchased in Benani names with the funds diverted from Sahara group entities, said an ED statement.
With the increasing use of the amended Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the agency has now seen a dramatic expansion in both scope and muscle.
The ED now investigates a wide spectrum of offences—from economic fraud and terror financing to high-profile political and administrative corruption along with all forms of money laundering. It has played a lead role in unearthing complex financial frauds, busting money laundering syndicates, including some of the real estate developers, and pushing forward cases that had been languishing for years.
Meanwhile, ED has also ramped up efforts to recover assets tied to economic fugitives and Ponzi scam operators to prioritise the restitution process.
