132 PMLA cases against current, ex-politicians in last 6 yrs: Govt

In a written response, Rai said 188 cases were registered under the PMLA in 2019, 708 in 2020, 1,166 in 2021, 1,074 in 2022, 934 in 2023 and 397 cases were registered so far this year. “195 cases were registered in 2014, 148 in 2015, 170 in 2016, 171 in 2017 and 146 cases in 2018,” he said.

The PMLA’s ambit was widened through amendments in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019, giving the ED the teeth it now has. In 2009, criminal conspiracy under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code was added to the PMLA’s schedule among various other offences. This has, over the years, allowed the ED to enter any case where a conspiracy is alleged, even if the principal offence is not part of the PMLA schedule.

In 2009, the ED also got international jurisdiction for tracking laundered money. Following amendments in 2015 and 2018, the ED was allowed to attach properties in India equivalent to properties acquired abroad through laundered money. Through certain “explanations” inserted into the PMLA in 2019, the government allowed the ED to attach properties earned directly or indirectly through alleged criminal activity that was even “relatable” to a scheduled offence.

Rai said 140 accused persons are currently in jail under PMLA provisions since 2016. On Tuesday, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary shared in the Rajya Sabha figures related to the ED filing enforcement case information reports (ECIRs) against existing and ex-MPs, MLAs, MLCs and political leaders or anyone affiliated with any political party between January 1, 2019 to July 31 this year. “The ED filed 15 ECIRs or money laundering cases in 2019 followed by 28 in 2020, 26 in 2021, 34 in 2022, 26 in 2023 and three in 2024 (till July 31). A court trial in these cases was completed in a total of three cases – one in 2020 and two in 2023. Only one conviction in these cases was reported to have been made in 2020,” he said.

Chaudhary said a total of 7,083 ECIRs have been filed by the agency till July 31. “The rate of conviction obtained under PMLA is around 93%. Assets worth more than Rs 1.39 lakh crore were either seized, frozen or attached under the law. The total value of proceeds seized under PMLA is approximately Rs 3,725.76 crore, frozen under PMLA is approximately Rs 4,651.68 crore and attached under PMLA is approximately Rs 1,31,375 crore,” he said.