With ED probing newer dimensions of money laundering, staff shortage is now acutely felt
Forget tackling black money, the 700-strong Enforcement Directorate (ED) is hard put to probe its current workload of 7,000 cases with just 218 investigating officers.
At present, the Directorate is pursuing sensational cases such as the coal block allocations, the Saradha chit-fund scam, the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal as well as the 2G scam.
The Directorate’s primary role is to enforce the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (2005 onwards) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (2001 onwards).
It can recommend preventive detention under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act.