ED Recorded 6,444 Money Laundering Cases Probed Since 2014, 121 Convicted: Govt Tells Parliament. The Enforcement Directorate informed that Special PMLA Courts secured convictions in 53 out of 56 completed cases, resulting in 121 individuals being found guilty.
At the end of 2024, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Chirang, Assam, successfully resolved all 830 pending cases, achieving a remarkable 100% disposal rate. This achievement stands out amidst the country’s ongoing judicial backlog. The district also reported a 23.29% conviction rate for the year, highlighting effective teamwork among stakeholders.
Between 2019 and October 2024, the Enforcement Directorate filed 911 chargesheets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, achieving only 42 convictions, indicating a low conviction rate of approximately 4.6%. With 28% of cases still pending trial, concerns of political bias and misuse of the Act have been raised.
The recent discussion on the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in Delhi raised concerns about its potential misuse if the current Government returns to power. Senior advocates emphasized the perilous state of civil liberties in India and highlighted arbitrary detentions under UAPA. There is an urgent need for judicial independence and adherence to constitutional rights.