Enforcement Directorate (ED)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is an Indian law enforcement agency and economic intelligence agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting financial crime in India. It operates under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. The ED's primary functions include investigating offenses of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws. The ED is in the news currently due to raids conducted on the home of environmental activists Harjeet Singh and Jyoti Awasthi, co-founders of Satat Sampada (Nature Forever). The ED claims the activists received significant funds to advocate for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, alleging this undermines India's national interest. This action highlights the ED's role in investigating potential financial irregularities related to activities perceived as detrimental to national economic policies, raising questions about the scope and application of its powers in relation to environmental activism.