The conference, chaired by the ED Director, was attended by all Special Directors, Additional Directors, Joint Directors, senior officials, and legal advisors.
Photo: ANI
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) successfully conducted its 32nd Quarterly Conference of Zonal Officers (QCZO) on September 12–13 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
The conference, chaired by the ED Director, was attended by all Special Directors, Additional Directors, Joint Directors, senior officials, and legal advisors.
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The decision to hold the conference in Srinagar was seen as a step towards restoring confidence in the security environment of the region following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
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During the conference, the Director reviewed case statistics and directed zonal heads to expedite pending investigations, ensure timely filing of prosecution complaints, and make all possible efforts to fast-track trials under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In line with the Supreme Court’s observations during the review of the Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary judgment on establishing exclusive Special Courts for PMLA, it was noted that letters have been sent to registrars of all Chief Justices to consider the proposal.
The discussions also highlighted that delays in predicate offences often affect PMLA prosecutions.
However, in cases decided on merit by Special Courts, the ED has secured convictions in 50 out of 53 cases, achieving a conviction rate of over 94 per cent, regarded as among the highest for any enforcement agency in India and globally.
The ED also acknowledged that it has successfully restituted assets worth more than ₹34,000 crore to victims and legitimate claimants.
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