Lawyer-client privilege threatened: ED summons to senior advocates raises concerns over independence of the legal profession.
Investigative summonses directed at senior advocates for opinions rendered in the course of representation are alleged to intrude on lawyer-client privilege and threaten advocates' professional autonomy; the bar association urged judicial scrutiny of the legality of such summonses, the protection of constitutional and professional safeguards for advocates, and the establishment of guidelines to prevent erosion of privilege.

Money laundering probe targets alleged exam paper leak syndicate and shell companies in multi-state recruitment fraud investigation.
ED carried out multi-state searches under the PMLA in an alleged money laundering probe tied to the 2023 Bihar constable recruitment paper leak, seizing answer sheets, OMR codes and identity-related materials. The agency alleges proceeds were generated by selling leaked papers through an inter-state syndicate that used a one-room shell company and outsourced printing to a related press, diverted question papers to a warehouse for circulation, and converted candidate payments into assets; some state police officials are reported to be under investigation.

Release of attached properties under PMLA permitted, subject to bank undertaking to ensure future recovery obligations.
The special court permitted release of properties attached under the money laundering probe to enable sale or auction for recovery of bank dues, with the Enforcement Directorate raising no objection subject to conditions. The bank was directed to provide an undertaking to ensure that proceeds, or amounts due, would be recoverable in future if required. The released assets include jewellery, coins, watches, cash, a residential flat and other movables recovered from the accused's residence.

Automatic exchange of information increases financial transparency as Swiss data show Indian-held bank funds rose while deposits grew modestly
Swiss central bank data show total liabilities of Swiss banks to Indian clients rose to CHF 3.545 billion in 2024, driven mainly by interbank and fiduciary holdings while direct customer deposits grew only modestly. SNB figures cover deposits, branches and non-deposit liabilities and differ from BIS locational statistics, which more narrowly capture deposits of Indian individuals. The reported data do not constitute determinations of illicit assets and do not include accounts held via third country entities. An automatic exchange of information with India has been in force since 2018 and Switzerland also shares information on suspected wrongdoing upon prima facie evidence.

Money laundering probe targets proceeds from an alleged exam paper leak syndicate enabling recruitment fraud and asset creation.
A federal money laundering investigation targets proceeds from an alleged inter state paper leak syndicate that sold advance access to recruitment exam question papers. Searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act focused on agents, syndicate members, associated firms and a printing press after state FIRs alleged that payments by aspirants were converted into personal assets. The probe highlights use of a shell contractor, outsourced printing, diversion of papers to a third party warehouse, and procedural deviations in custody and transport that enabled circulation and sale of the exam papers.

Power to seal premises under the PMLA contested; agency asserts no sealing power but may break locks under section seventeen.
The agency asserted it has no power to seal premises when locked at the time of a PMLA search, but can break locks under PMLA section 17; it withdrew notices pasted on petitioners' premises and was directed to return seized material, while the court reserved orders and listed the petitions for further hearing.

Money laundering probe under PMLA triggers coordinated searches while party alleges politically motivated enforcement actions.
A federal money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act led the Enforcement Directorate to take cognisance of an Anti Corruption Branch FIR and conduct coordinated searches at contractor and private entity premises to trace alleged proceeds and transactions linked to a classroom construction scheme, while the implicated political party characterised the enforcement action as politically motivated and a diversion from governance criticisms.

Money laundering probe into alleged construction procurement irregularities leads to raids and investigation of former ministers.
A federal money laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act follows an Anti Corruption Branch FIR alleging inflated costs, procedural lapses, misuse of public funds, improper consultant appointments, and suppression of a vigilance report in a government school classroom construction programme, with multiple contractors and former ministers identified as subjects of investigation.

Enforcement Directorate summons political associate for questioning in alleged money laundering and fraud probe; cooperation pledged.
The ED summoned a political associate in a probe arising from multiple cheating FIRs alleging a scheme to solicit gold, cash and bank funds by promising high returns and falsely invoking political proximity. Searches recovered incriminating documents, digital devices and seized cash; an arrest has been made. The summoned individual denies financial dealings with the accused, has lodged a complaint about misuse of his name, and has indicated he will cooperate and give a statement while the ED records other related statements and pursues financial-tracing inquiries.

Money laundering probe prompts summons to state deputy chief minister and brother for questioning and cooperation.
The federal agency summoned the state Deputy Chief Minister and his brother for questioning in a money laundering probe tied to a woman accused of cheating investors by promising high returns, claiming political proximity and misusing the brother's name; searches recovered documents, digital devices and cash, and multiple FIRs allege a criminal conspiracy to take gold, cash and bank funds without returning promised returns.

Money laundering investigation prompts coordinated multi-state searches under PMLA in connection with narcotics trafficking syndicate and linked entities
A PMLA investigation targets proceeds linked to a narcotics trafficking syndicate first detected by the Punjab Police; the Enforcement Directorate executed coordinated searches at over fifteen locations across six states, including premises of several pharmaceutical companies and residences of linked individuals. The PMLA case derives from a 2024 Punjab Police Special Task Force FIR under the NDPS framework against two drug peddlers and an alleged middleman, following an operation that led to seven arrests and seizure of narcotics-making pharmaceutical inputs.

Enforcement Directorate summons: businessman misses scheduled appearances, PMLA probe and chargesheet proceedings continue.
A federal investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act has summoned the businessman to record his statement after earlier questioning; he missed two scheduled depositions citing illness and pre notified foreign travel, though his counsel says he will cooperate on return. The agency has filed a chargesheet in one matter alleging funds were used to renovate a London property, the subject denies ownership and calls the probe politically motivated, and parallel extradition developments concerning a UK based consultant have impaired cross border return prospects.

Prevention of Money Laundering Act summons prompt questioning of politician over alleged identity misuse in fraud scheme.
Summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act have been issued to a political figure to record his statement in an alleged cheating scheme linked to a federal money laundering inquiry, where a local woman is accused of misrepresenting a familial connection, using his name to solicit investments, and enabling alleged laundering of proceeds.

Terror financing recognised as enabling attacks; global watchdog to release report and increase scrutiny on funding networks.
The global financial watchdog finds the Pahalgam attack required external financial support and will publish a comprehensive analysis of terrorist financing, host outreach for public and private sectors, and increase scrutiny of jurisdictions. The report explicitly recognises state sponsored terrorism as a funding source and highlights financial intelligence, mutual evaluations, and addressing AML/CFT strategic deficiencies as measures to dismantle terrorist financing networks.

Asset seizure powers expanded under new law enable swift attachment of criminal proceeds and push for expedited trials.
Attachment proceedings will be initiated to seize property identified as illegally acquired from numerous accused individuals, relying on enhanced police powers under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to seize ill gotten money and property without awaiting other agencies; proposals have also been sent to the Enforcement Directorate for attachments under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Concurrently, proposals will be submitted for establishing multiple fast track courts to expedite trials in heinous offences and a commitment to strict action against corrupt officers is asserted.

State-sponsored terrorism funding acknowledged by FATF; report to inform increased monitoring and grey-list submissions by affected states.
The FATF condemned the Pahalgam attack and announced a comprehensive analysis of terrorist financing-acknowledging state sponsored terrorism as a funding source-will publish a report compiled from its global network, host a webinar on emerging CFT risks, and emphasised effectiveness reviews and mutual evaluations; India is preparing a dossier to seek Pakistan's placement on the FATF grey list for alleged AML/CFT omissions and commissions.

Interim bail denial to former Amtek chairperson amid ongoing PMLA-linked probe and asset attachment allegations.
The Supreme Court refused interim bail and reiterated a prior order directing the former Amtek Group chairperson to surrender in custody, declining renewed medical grounds relief and noting that any post angiography surgical need may be pursued after surrender. The refusal relates to an ED probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into alleged bank fraud by Amtek companies, with provisional attachment of substantial assets identified as proceeds of crime and a chargesheet filed following insolvency processes that caused lender losses.

Terror financing scrutiny: FATF intensifies evaluation of countries' AML/CFT measures ahead of greylisting reviews.
The FATF has intensified focus on the effectiveness of national AML/CFT measures in response to attacks that depend on financial flows, emphasising identification of gaps through mutual evaluations, strategic use of financial intelligence, and attention to emerging risks such as social media, crowdfunding, and virtual assets; jurisdictions with persistent deficiencies may face enhanced monitoring or grey listing, and states and stakeholders are urged to cooperate, submit evidence, and strengthen public-private collaboration to disrupt terrorist financing.

Money laundering prosecution after alleged creation of fake Indian identities and hawala based cross border remittances.
Enforcement Directorate filed a PMLA prosecution complaint alleging a Pakistani national living in Kolkata procured multiple Indian identity documents by forgery and assumed aliases to conceal nationality, underpinning a FIR for contravention of the Foreigners Act. The complaint alleges operation of a hawala network and unlawful remittances to Bangladesh, collection and deposit of multi currency payments into accounts of associates, and facilitation of fraudulent visas and passports for Bangladeshi nationals; the filings identify identity forgery, conversion of alleged proceeds of crime via forex changers, and cross border transfers as predicates of the money laundering case.

Asset attachment under PMLA seizes political party office and former minister's properties in money laundering probe.
The Enforcement Directorate issued a provisional order under the PMLA attaching immovable properties, including a political party office and assets of a former minister and his son, on the basis that proceeds from an alleged liquor scheme were used to acquire and construct immovable property, and alleging evidence linking the former minister to facilitation, receipt and deployment of those proceeds.