ED द्वारा धन शोधन मामलों में गिरफ़्तारी 27% घट गई, जबकि संपत्ति संलग्नता FY 2025‑26 में ₹81,000 crore तक पहुंची

<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Enforcement Directorate — India's specialized financial investigation agency under the Ministry of Finance, tasked with enforcing economic laws and combating money laundering (GS3: Economy)">Enforcement Directorate (ED)</span> reported a mixed performance in its anti‑money‑laundering drive for the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Financial year — 12‑month accounting period used by the Indian government, typically April 1 to March 31 (GS3: Economy)">financial year</span> 2025‑26. While the number of arrests in <span class="key-term" data-definition="Money laundering — process of disguising illicit funds as legitimate, a major concern for financial integrity and governance (GS3: Economy)">money laundering</span> cases fell by about <strong>27 %</strong>, the value of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Attached assets — properties or funds seized by authorities under PMLA to prevent their disposal while investigations are ongoing (GS3: Economy)">attached assets</span> reached a record <strong>₹81,000 crore</strong>.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>Arrests under the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) — 2002 legislation that provides the legal framework for investigating and prosecuting money laundering offenses (GS3: Economy)">Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)</span> dropped by roughly <strong>27 %</strong> compared with the previous fiscal year.</li> <li>The number of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Searches/raids — operational actions by enforcement agencies to gather evidence, often involving entry into premises, under legal warrants (GS3: Economy)">searches or raids</span> conducted by the ED almost doubled, reaching <strong>2,892</strong> in FY 2025‑26.</li> <li>Value of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Attached assets — properties or funds seized by authorities under PMLA to prevent their disposal while investigations are ongoing (GS3: Economy)">attached assets</span> surged to over <strong>₹81,000 crore</strong>, the highest ever recorded.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <ul> <li>Arrests fell from the previous year’s figure, indicating a possible shift in enforcement focus.</li> <li>Asset attachment, a civil remedy under PMLA, provides the government with a tool to freeze and eventually confiscate illicit wealth.</li> <li>Increased raids suggest heightened investigative activity, often preceding asset seizure.</li> <li>The FY 2025‑26 data reflects the ED’s operational statistics up to <strong>31 March 2026</strong>.</li> </ul> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>Understanding the ED’s performance is essential for GS 3 (Economy) as it illustrates how India tackles financial crimes, a key component of the “Financial Sector Reforms” and “Regulatory Framework” topics. The trend of higher asset attachment aligns with the government’s emphasis on recovering black money, a recurring theme in the Union Budget and anti‑c