Congress Alleges Misuse of ED and PMLA Cases Amid Revelations of Disproportionate Increase in Cases Under NDA Rule

In a fresh attack on the ruling NDA government, Congress Rajya Sabha member Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of being misused for political vendettas, citing alarming data shared by the Finance Ministry.

Surjewala took to social media, posting an image of the Finance Ministry’s response to his question in Parliament, claiming that the data exposed the massive “witch-hunt” against political opponents. The Congress leader had earlier raised questions in Parliament regarding the number of economic offence cases filed by the ED over the past five years, as well as details about pending cases, disposed of cases, and convictions.

In his post, Surjewala highlighted three key facts from the Finance Ministry’s reply, which he claims showcase the misuse of the ED and PMLA:

1. Low Conviction Rate: Out of the 911 cases filed by the ED under the PMLA in the past five years, only 42 (4.6%) resulted in convictions, a dismal rate that Surjewala argued demonstrated the ineffectiveness and misuse of the law.
2. High Number of Pending Cases: Of the 911 cases filed, 654 (71.7%) remain pending after five years, with only 257 (28%) reaching the trial stage. Surjewala emphasized that this backlog pointed to a deliberate effort to delay justice and harass individuals with prolonged legal proceedings.
3. Sharp Increase in Cases Under NDA Rule: The data also revealed a stark contrast between the two governments. In the last five years of NDA rule, 911 cases were filed under the PMLA, compared to only 102 cases filed during the entire 10 years of the UPA regime. Surjewala argued that this significant increase reflected the ruling government’s tendency to weaponize the ED for political purposes.

The Congress leader further demanded information regarding the number of functioning special courts under the PMLA, tasked with the trial of money laundering offences, to further probe the functioning of these cases.

Surjewala’s accusations have sparked political debate, with the Congress party alleging that the ED has become a tool for harassing political adversaries, particularly from opposition parties. The revelations come amid ongoing concerns over the agency’s increasing involvement in high-profile cases and its growing influence under the NDA government.