ED Filed 5,892 PMLA Cases Since 2015, Only 15 Convictions in a Decade: FinMin in Rajya Sabha
The Finance Ministry told Rajya Sabha that the ED has filed 5,892 PMLA cases since 2015 but secured only 15 convictions in ten years.
The Finance Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha on July 29, 2025, that the Enforcement Directorate ( ED ) has taken up a total of 5,892 cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 ( PMLA ) between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2025. Despite the large number of investigations, only 15 individuals have been convicted during this ten-year period. The details were shared...
The Finance Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha on July 29, 2025, that the Enforcement Directorate ( ED ) has taken up a total of 5,892 cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 ( PMLA ) between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2025.
Despite the large number of investigations, only 15 individuals have been convicted during this ten-year period. The details were shared by Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary in response to a question raised by Member of Parliament Shri Saket Gokhale.
The MP asked for the number of cases where chargesheets had not been filed and for details of cases that had been closed or withdrawn.
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According to the reply, the ED has filed 1,398 Prosecution Complaints in these cases, including 353 supplementary complaints, before Special PMLA Courts across the country. However, charges have been framed in only 300 of these cases so far. This means that in most cases, either the prosecution is still pending or the trial has not begun.
The Ministry also stated that as of June 30, 2025, there have been only eight conviction orders from PMLA courts, resulting in 15 persons being convicted. This represents a very small fraction of the total number of cases taken up for investigation.
The Finance Ministry also revealed that the ED filed closure reports in 49 cases during the same period. These reports were submitted before the concerned Special PMLA Courts, effectively ending those proceedings.
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The data is likely to raise questions about the efficiency and impact of the ED’s use of the PMLA, a law that has often been used in cases involving financial crimes, corruption, and high-profile individuals.
The number of investigations has risen sharply, but the low conviction rate may lead to further scrutiny of how the law is being applied and whether the process ensures fair and timely outcomes.
This is one of the first comprehensive disclosures by the government detailing the long-term enforcement record under PMLA.
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