The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is a key Indian agency in the complex web of law enforcement, charged with looking into cases of money laundering (ML) and breaches of foreign exchange laws. But it is intentionally relegated to a toothless apparatus in battling economic crimes. It is crucial to analyse the ED’s operations in detail, explore the legal framework that supports it, and evaluate the legislative gaps that raise concerns about the effectiveness of this organisation. The intentional aloofness of the Indian ruling Janta to enhance its Anti ML wherewithal makes it a fit case for inclusion in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Besides, Indian slackness in handling issues related to drugs, uranium, and corruption also contributes to its eligibility for stern actions by FATF.

The broad role of ED includes investigating violations of foreign exchange legislation, levying fines, implementing the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and coordinating the tracking down and seizure of assets. Beneath the surface, nevertheless, an unwilling and grumbling approach by the Indian government further accentuates this pervasive illness in India. No worthwhile effort has been directed to structural flaws in India’s law enforcement system, emphasising the lack of human capital and resource allocation that is necessary for the strong........

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