A view of Supreme Court. Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Two separate benches of the Supreme Court questioned the “poor punishment rates” received by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in money laundering cases on Thursday (August 7, 2025), when compared to complaints and arrests made by the central agency.
The Chief Justice of India, Bra Gavai, reviewed the bench of three-judges in the Bhushan Steel-JSW case, saying, the ED had “successful” to impact people for years without any conviction.
In a part of another apex court bench for hearing a batch of review petitions against the prevention of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said, “You have registered only less than 10,” said Ujjal Bhuyan said, “Out of about 400 ECIRs are registered, only less than 10 have reached the sentence.”
Justice Bhuyan said, “People are in custody for four to five years and were finally acquitted. We are equally concerned with ED’s image.”
Justice Bhuan also suggested that the ED improved its methods of investigation.
Convicted influential accused persons
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appeared for the ED, convicted influential accused persons for obstructing the “poor investigators”, stating that the former parks themselves and their money are also included in places such as Cayman Islands.
Justice Bhuan replied that the investigator could not turn into one, to catch a crook. The judge replied, “There is a difference between law-propeliers and individuals violating the law.”
Mr. Raju also said that the accused persons repeatedly filed the application and the persons who delayed the trial were another reason. “They do not allow the test to begin. They keep demanding discharge,” they presented.
Justice Bhuan said that no law or constitution can be blamed for delay in ED cases.
Justice Surya Kant intervened to indicate that under the PMLA, a dedicated cadre of judges trying to try money laundering cases could be solved with special courts.
Published – August 07, 2025 11:54 pm IST