Enforcement Directorate (ED)

History: 

an ‘Enforcement Unit’ was formed, in the Department of Economic Affairs, for handling Exchange Control Laws violations under Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (FERA ’47).

Renamed: 

In the year 1957, this Unit was renamed as ‘Enforcement Directorate’.

Ministry: 

part of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Mandate: 

Organization is mandated with the task of enforcing the provisions of two special fiscal laws – Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

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.