New Delhi, Dec 19: Over 6,000 cases registered under money laundering and foreign exchange violation charges are pending investigation in the country, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha, in a written reply, also said the government has sanctioned a ‘Special Incentive Allowance’ to the personnel of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) with effect from November 24, 2015.
He added 1,361 posts at various levels are “presently lying vacant” in the probe agency.
“Efforts have been made from time to time to fill up these posts on deputation basis by issuing vacancy circulars regularly. However, these posts could not be filed due to unavailability of suitable candidates and also non-availability of personnel within ED cadre for promotion to next higher levels due to non-fulfilment of prescribed experience criteria,” he said.
He added a total of 1,319 cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and 4,787 cases under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) are pending in the ED, as of October this year.
In a separate reply, he said assets worth Rs 10,309 crore have been attached by the agency under anti-money laundering laws till November 1, 2015.
“The attached properties are subject to confiscation or otherwise by the order of special court under PMLA. The directorate is not vested with powers to auction these properties. As such, the Directorate is supposed to maintain the attached properties till the same are disposed off. The Directorate has conducted training sessions at some of such properties. No festivals/parties are, however, held at these properties,” he said.
