Directorate of Enforcement (ED)

In News: In the eight years from 2014, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has investigated 121 prominent politicians and has arrested, questioned, raided, or filed FIRs against 115 major Opposition leaders.

About ED:

• The Directorate of Enforcement is a multi-disciplinary organization mandated with investigation of offence of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws enacted in 2002.
• It is part of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• The statutory functions of the Directorate include enforcement of following Acts:
• The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
• The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA): A civil law under which ED conducts investigation into suspected contraventions of foreign exchange laws and regulations.
• The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA): A law whereby Directorate is mandated to attach the properties of the fugitive economic offenders who have escaped from the India warranting arrest and provide for the confiscation of their properties to the Central Government.
• The Directorate of Enforcement, with its headquarters at New Delhi, is headed by the Director of Enforcement.
• The Director of Enforcement is appointed by the central government on the recommendation of a committee chaired by the Central Vigilance Commissioner and members comprising of Vigilance Commissioners, Home Secretary, Secretary DOPT and Revenue Secretary; with a tenure of up to 5 years.

MUST READ:  Prevention of Money Laundering Act

Source: Indian Express