ED’s Hyderabad unit leads in money laundering prosecution plaints

HYDERABAD: The Enforcement Directorate’s Hyderabad unit has filed the highest number of prosecution complaints in the country under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act during the 2024-25 financial year. Prominent investigationsWith 49 complaints filed in the 2024-25 fiscal, the unit increased its tally over the previous year during which it had filed 40 prosecution complaints. Officials said this is the most significant number filed in any zone across India.In the same period, the unit executed 43 provisional attachments, up from 19 in the previous year.The total value of properties attached under money laundering cases rose to Rs 916 crore, compared to Rs 750 crore in the 2023-24 financial year.The unit was involved in several prominent investigations over the year. A supplementary prosecution complaint was filed against Nowhera Shaik in connection with the alleged Heera Group Ponzi scheme case. The ED also pursued cases involving alleged irregularities in PG medical admissions, an illegal pharmacy racket dealing in unregulated drugs under the NDPS Act, and a money laundering case linked to the Lucent drugs case. Enforcement action was also taken in money laundering investigations involving Sahithi Infra, Transtroy, and alleged misappropriation of funds in the Hyderabad Cricket Association. The Hyderabad unit also pursued two cases initially registered by the National Investigation Agency related to Bangladesh-linked human trafficking.While prosecution filings and property attachments increased, the number of arrests dropped. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, only one accused was arrested—linked to Sahithi Infra—compared to ten arrests in the previous year. The number of Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) remained nearly constant, with 58 filed this year against 59 last year.Sources said the numbers reflect a strategic shift towards strengthening prosecution and asset recovery, rather than focusing on custodial arrests. With a growing list of high-value fraud investigations, including the Madhucon Infra and Ranchi Expressway case and the multi-crore Agrigold scam, the Hyderabad ED unit remains active in pursuing economic offences.