Enforcement Directorate News

Frequently asked questions

What does the Enforcement Directorate do?

The Directorate of Enforcement is a law enforcement agency in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. It enforces the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

What is an ECIR?

An Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) is the ED's internal record of a PMLA case. The Supreme Court has held that it is not equivalent to an FIR and need not be supplied to the accused, although the grounds of arrest must be communicated in writing.

What happens when the ED attaches property under PMLA?

A provisional attachment order under Section 5 of PMLA is valid for 180 days. Within that period it must be confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority. A confirmed attachment can be appealed to the Appellate Tribunal and then to the High Court.

Why is bail difficult in PMLA cases?

Section 45 of PMLA imposes 'twin conditions': the court must be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe the accused is not guilty and is not likely to commit an offence while on bail. Courts have, however, granted bail where trials are prolonged.

How can White Collar Professional help with a ED or PMLA matter?

Post your requirement on White Collar Professional to receive proposals from verified Advocates and forensic Chartered Accountants, compare them, and pay securely through the platform. This page also tracks the latest ED or PMLA ED and PMLA updates as they are reported.