Rahul Navin: New Enforcement Directorate (ED) Chief

Appointment and Background

• Rahul Navin, a 1993-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, appointed as the new director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED)
• Appointment made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Navin to serve a two-year term, effective from the date of assuming charge
• Previously served as Special Director of ED since November 2019
• Took over as acting chief after former director Sanjay Kumar Mishra's tenure ended on September 15, 2023

Career Highlights and Expertise

• 57-year-old Navin is considered an expert in international taxation matters
• Worked closely with former director Sanjay Mishra, gaining valuable experience and insights
• Joined the ED in November 2019, bringing his expertise to the agency
• Known for his role in overseeing high-profile arrests and investigations during his tenure as acting chief
• Demonstrated leadership in complex financial crime investigations

Notable Cases and Actions Under Navin's Leadership

• Oversaw high-profile arrests under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

Key arrests include:

• • Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
  • Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh
  • Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in excise policy-related irregularities
  • Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in an alleged land-grabbing case
• Attached properties worth ₹751 crore in the probe against Congress-run National Herald newspaper
• Investigations involving Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case
• Plans to question Rahul Gandhi soon to conclude the probe

ED's Role and Current Investigations

• ED is a multi-disciplinary organization investigating financial crimes under various laws:
  • Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
  • Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA)
  • Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)
• Currently investigating over 100 political leaders in the country
• Approximately 95% of the politicians under investigation are from opposition parties
• The agency's actions have drawn attention to its role in high-profile political cases