2 Convictions in 193 ED Cases Against Politicians

Govt Data Also Showed There Have Been No Acquittals, Suggesting the Investigations Are Progressing

- Neeraj Chauhan

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered 193 cases against politicians, including members of Parliament and MLAs, in the last 10 years but secured a conviction in only two cases, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday, adding that the financial crimes probe agency takes up cases "based on credible material and not political affiliations, religion or otherwise."

To be sure, the data also showed that there have been no acquittals, suggesting that the investigations are progressing. In some cases, it is likely that charge sheets have also not been filed. ED didn't officially comment on the issue, but a senior officer said, "Various cases in which politicians have been investigated are at different stages of trial."

The data was shared by Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

It shows that out of 193 cases against political leaders, 138 were registered in Narendra Modi government's second term—between 2019-20 and 2023-24, while 42 were registered in the last four years of the first term—between 2015-16 and 2018-19; 13 cases were taken up against MPs, MLAs and local administrators between April 2024 and February 28.