Enforcement Directorate
Why in news:
- In a major setback to Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthilbalaji, the Madras High Court on July 14 upheld the legality of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and his subsequent remand in judicial custody in a moneylaundering case linked to a cashforjobs scam.
About Enforcement Directorate:
- The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is a domestic law enforcement agency and economic intelligence agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting economic crime in India.
- It is part of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government Of India.
- The Enforcement Directorate focuses on investigating and prosecuting cases related to money laundering, foreign exchange violations, and economic offenses.
- Its primary objective is to curb the generation and circulation of black money and to ensure compliance with the laws concerning foreign exchange and prevention of money laundering.
- The prime objective of the Enforcement Directorate is the enforcement of two key Acts of the Government of India namely, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. 2002 (PMLA), and The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA).
Special Courts:
- For the trial of an offence punishable under section 4 of PMLA, the Central Government (in consultation with the chief justice of the High Court), designates one or more Sessions Court as Special Court(s).
- The court is also called “PMLA Court”. Any appeal against any order passed by PMLA court can directly be filed in the High Court for that jurisdiction.
Syllabus: Prelims + Mains; GS II – Polity and Governance
