The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered its highest-ever number of raids and asset attachments during the fiscal year 2025-26, even as arrests witnessed a decline, according to the agency's annual report released on Saturday.
Record Raids Under PMLA
Searches or raids conducted by the central agency under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) almost doubled to 2,892 during the 2025-26 fiscal, compared to 1,456 in the previous year. This marks the highest number of raids ever conducted by the ED in a single fiscal year.
Asset Attachments Surge
The agency also attached assets worth over Rs 1.2 lakh crore, a significant increase from the previous year. The attached properties include movable and immovable assets linked to money laundering cases, including those involving high-profile politicians, businessmen, and organized crime syndicates.
Decline in Arrests
Despite the surge in raids and attachments, the number of arrests made by the ED declined to 120 in 2025-26, down from 145 in the previous fiscal. Officials attributed this to a shift in strategy, focusing more on disrupting financial networks rather than immediate custodial arrests.
Focus on Financial Disruption
The annual report highlights that the ED has increasingly used preventive measures such as freezing assets and issuing show-cause notices to curb money laundering. The agency has also stepped up its use of technology, including data analytics and artificial intelligence, to identify suspicious transactions and track illicit financial flows.
Challenges and Criticism
The report acknowledges challenges including legal hurdles and the need for enhanced international cooperation. Critics, however, have accused the ED of overreach and targeting political opponents. The agency has defended its actions, stating that all operations are conducted within the legal framework and based on credible intelligence.
The ED's annual report for 2025-26 underscores the agency's aggressive stance against money laundering, with record-breaking enforcement actions even as the number of arrests declined. The trend reflects a strategic shift towards financial disruption over punitive measures.
