Bank board appointment and governance profile highlight strengthened banking oversight, depositor protection, and credit discipline measures.
HDFC Bank approved the appointment of former Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar as an Independent Director for four years from 30 June 2026 and, subject to Reserve Bank of India approval, as Part-time Chairman for three years with remuneration to be determined from the date approved by the central bank. The bank also recorded that he is not related to any other director or key managerial personnel. His profile further noted banking clean-up measures, NPA recognition and provisioning, action against shell companies and unregulated deposit schemes, and strengthened monitoring of large exposures and fraud risks.

Banking governance and financial-sector reform shape Rajiv Kumar's appointment as HDFC Bank's new chairman
HDFC Bank appointed Rajiv Kumar as an Independent Director for four years and, subject to Reserve Bank of India approval, as Part-time Chairman for three years. The accompanying profile credited him with banking-sector clean-up measures, including recognition and provisioning of non-performing assets, borrower accountability under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code framework, and the 4R strategy of Recognition, Resolution, Recapitalisation and Reforms. It also referred to action against shell companies, unregulated deposit schemes, illicit financial practices, strengthened oversight of cooperative banks, and technology-based risk controls for large exposures.

Criminal conspiracy allegations arise from an attack on ED officers during a search operation and related bail opposition.
The Enforcement Directorate alleged that the attack on its officers and damage to vehicles after a search at a former Chief Minister's residence formed part of a criminal conspiracy linked to the top leadership of the CPI(M). It said the unlawful protest and violent assault occurred in the presence of senior party leaders, whose provocative language allegedly instigated supporters to escalate the demonstration into physical violence. The agency treated the episode as interference with the rule of law and filed its objection in opposition to a bail plea in the case arising from the incident.

Money laundering and disproportionate assets: attached hotels and flats linked to alleged proceeds routed through companies.
Provisional attachment of four hotels in Guwahati and two residential flats in Mumbai, valued at about Rs 53.28 crore, was made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in a money laundering case linked to alleged disproportionate assets against a retired IPS officer from Assam. The Enforcement Directorate stated that the officer and his wife were found to have assets worth about Rs 79 crore against disclosed income and expenditure of Rs 7.23 crore and Rs 9.04 crore respectively, and that the proceeds were routed through three companies, including Ishan Commercial.

Money laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act focuses on alleged payments without services and proceeds of crime.
Enforcement Directorate action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act centred on questioning of Veena T in connection with alleged laundering linked to her former IT firm Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. The probe concerns alleged payments made by CMRL to Exalogic without corresponding services, together with loans extended through another CMRL-linked entity, and the agency's case is that these transactions generated proceeds of crime.

Money laundering probe over alleged fund diversion at an educational society leads to searches and asset seizure.
Enforcement Directorate searches in a money laundering investigation against a Madhya Pradesh-based educational society led to seizure of cash, gold jewellery, financial records and property-related documents. The probe arises from an FIR alleging large-scale financial fraud, including misappropriation and diversion of funds belonging to the society, and is registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The searches covered residential premises, offices, educational institutions, trusts and business establishments connected with the Chouksey Group.

Money laundering probe under PMLA focuses on alleged payments, loans and proceeds of crime linked to Exalogic and CMRL.
Enforcement Directorate continued its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into alleged transactions between Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd, questioning Veena T again and examining her bank lockers. The probe concerns allegations that payments and loans were routed without corresponding services, with the ED alleging that the arrangements generated proceeds of crime and relying on a prosecution complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office.

Money laundering investigation leads to searches over a private university's financial affairs under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Enforcement Directorate searches were conducted in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as part of a money laundering investigation concerning the financial affairs of a private university. About ten locations were searched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, and the inquiry was linked to an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing of the Madhya Pradesh Police.

Money laundering inquiry over alleged payments without services and related loan transactions between CMRL and Exalogic Solutions.
Money laundering inquiry concerns alleged financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. and Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, including allegations that payments were made without corresponding services and that related loan transactions generated proceeds of crime. The Enforcement Directorate questioned the Chief Finance Officer of CMRL in connection with record-keeping of the transactions and indicated that other senior company officials would also be summoned. The agency further directed Veena to appear for another round of questioning.

Organ trafficking through fake medical tourism and forged donor records triggered money-laundering investigation and account freezes.
Enforcement Directorate investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concerns an alleged organ trafficking racket in Kerala that operated through a front medical tourism company and exploited financially distressed donors. The alleged network was said to involve forgery, cheating, criminal conspiracy and illegal organ trafficking under the guise of altruistic organ donation, with forged records, transplant-related documents, searches, seizures, account freezing and examination of properties and financial trails to trace the proceeds of crime.

Fake road construction bills trigger money laundering probe linked to forged invoices and alleged wrongful government payments.
Enforcement Directorate action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was taken on the basis of FIRs registered by the Economic Offences Wing concerning alleged submission of fake bills in road construction works of the Madhya Pradesh Rural Road Development Authority. Contractors were said to have conspired with project implementation unit officials and fraudulently obtained government payments by using forged and fabricated invoices purportedly issued in the names of oil companies.

Money laundering probe over alleged CMRL payments and related loans leads to fresh notice for questioning.
Fresh notice was issued to Veena T for appearance in a money-laundering inquiry under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concerning alleged transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and her now-defunct IT company, Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd. The probe concerns allegations that CMRL made payments to Exalogic without corresponding services and that related loans were extended despite alleged default, with the Enforcement Directorate alleging that these transactions generated proceeds of crime.

Prevention of Money Laundering Act attachment targets alleged illegal iron ore mining proceeds routed through offshore entities and assets.
Provisional attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was issued in an alleged illegal iron ore mining case involving the Salgaocar Groups and associates in Goa. The attachment covered immovable properties in India and Singapore, along with equity shares in connected entities, on the basis that the assets were linked to proceeds generated from alleged unlawful mining, sale and export of iron ore. The alleged laundering route involved layering through BVI and Singapore-based special purpose vehicles, acquisition of overseas assets, and partial routing of funds back into India as share capital.

Money laundering asset auction: attached Heera Group properties sold for investor restitution under judicial supervision.
The Enforcement Directorate auctioned 23 immovable assets earlier attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as properties derived from the proceeds of crime in the Heera Group money-laundering investigation. The auction was conducted through MSTC pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court, and the proceeds are to be used for restitution and repayment of genuine investors under judicial supervision.

Enforcement Directorate searches and seizure proceedings in a TASMAC-linked money-laundering probe faced challenge over their legality.
Challenge to the legality of Enforcement Directorate searches and seizure proceedings at a businessman's residence in a money-laundering probe linked to TASMAC. The plea sought quashing of searches conducted on multiple dates, but the High Court had declined to examine their validity at that stage. The Supreme Court upheld that approach and did not entertain the challenge to the searches.

Anti-money laundering leadership strengthens as India assumes FATF Vice-Presidency for the first time.
India has assumed the Vice-Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force for the first time, with Shri Vivek Aggarwal appointed for the term July 2026 to June 2027. The Vice-President is elected by the FATF Plenary and assists the President in steering the organisation's work. The appointment places an Indian official in a key role within the global standard-setting body for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing.

Money laundering investigation leads to bank locker examination over alleged corporate transactions and proceeds of crime
Enforcement Directorate action in a money laundering investigation extended to examination of a bank locker belonging to Veena T, daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in her presence at an HDFC Bank branch. The inquiry relates to alleged transactions involving her now-defunct IT firm, Exalogic, and its purported links with Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd, including payments said to have been made without corresponding services and loans allegedly extended through another company connected with CMRL management.

Bail petitions in alleged attack on ED officials dismissed amid continuing investigation and attempted murder charges.
Bail petitions filed by three accused in connection with the alleged attack on Enforcement Directorate officials were dismissed in proceedings arising from the CMRL money laundering probe. The accused argued that the allegations were baseless and that investigation against them had been completed, but the prosecution said investigation was still continuing. The matter relates to an alleged attack on ED and CRPF personnel after searches at the residence of the former Chief Minister, with police invoking multiple offences, including attempted murder.

Swiss bank deposits by Indian clients fell overall, while individual customer accounts and tax information exchange continued to expand.
Swiss National Bank data showed that Indian money in Swiss banks fell in 2025 to CHF 3.25 billion, with the decline driven mainly by funds held through local branches and other financial institutions. Customer deposits rose to CHF 524 million, while amounts due to banks remained the largest component at CHF 2.6 billion. Separate locational banking statistics showed an increase in deposits by Indian individuals to USD 89.73 million. The article also notes the automatic exchange of information in tax matters between Switzerland and India since 2018.

Money laundering probe over forged organ donation racket focuses on intermediaries, hospital transactions, and verification bypasses.
Enforcement Directorate searches were conducted at hospitals and residences across Kerala in a money laundering probe linked to an alleged racket facilitating illegal organ donations through forged documents. The investigation was based on multiple police FIRs, with preliminary material indicating that intermediaries arranged donations between donors, recipients and hospitals for substantial sums. Investigators were examining bank transactions and medical records connected with the alleged organ donation arrangements. Police enquiries also indicate that the accused forged hospital letterheads, police clearance certificates and recommendation letters to bypass verification and clearance requirements.