The Central Government told Parliament on Tuesday that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered more than 5,200 money-laundering cases since 2014. Out of which there was conviction in 40 cases and people were acquitted in 3 cases. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai gave this information in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. According to the data, a total of 5,297 cases were registered by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) between 2014 and 2024.
According to the information given in Parliament, punishment was given in 40 cases during this period. Whereas people have been acquitted in three cases. According to the data shared by the minister, a total of 375 accused are arrested under the anti-money laundering law for the period between 2016 to 2024.
So many arrests made under UAPA
During this, the Union Minister also gave data of cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), apart from acquittals and convictions under the anti-terrorism law between 2014-22. The data shows that a total of 8,719 UAPA cases were registered by state and central agencies during this period, in which 567 people were acquitted and 222 convicted.
Let us tell you that according to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), if any property or cash is obtained by misappropriation or embezzlement of money, then it is ‘criminal income’ and is considered as money laundering. According to PMLA, if any property or cash is obtained by misappropriation or embezzlement of money, then it is ‘criminal income’ and is considered as money laundering. In cases of money laundering, when ED seizes any property or cash, then the authority has to Information has to be given.
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what happens to seized cash
Legally, ED has the right to seize money, but it cannot keep the recovered cash with itself. According to protocol, whenever the agency recovers cash, the accused is asked about its source. If the accused is unable to reveal the source or the ED is not satisfied with his answers, then it is considered ‘unaccounted cash’ or ‘ill-gotten money’. After this, the cash is confiscated under PMLA. After this, ED calls SBI team to count the notes. Notes are counted using machines. Then a seizure memo is prepared by the ED team in the presence of SBI officials.
How much total cash was recovered? How many notes are there of which currency? All this is noted in the Caesar Memo. Later it is sealed in boxes in the presence of witnesses. After sealing and preparation of seizure memo, the recovered cash is deposited in the SBI branch. All this amount is deposited in the Personal Deposit (PD) account of ED.