Rahul Navin, who has been serving as the acting chief of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has now been appointed as the full-time director of the agency for a tenure of two years.
The decision was made official by a government order released on Wednesday, confirming Navin’s position as the head of the federal agency responsible for investigating money laundering cases.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Navin's appointment, which will see him lead the Directorate of Enforcement for a period of two years. His role will commence from the date he assumes charge of the post, or until further orders are issued.
The order emphasised that Navin’s appointment is set for a fixed term, providing stability to the leadership of the agency that plays a crucial role in combating financial crimes in India.
Rahul Navin, who is 57 years old, joined the Enforcement Directorate as a Special Director in November 2019. His extensive experience in the field of financial investigations has made him a prominent figure within the agency.
Navin is a 1993-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, specialising in income tax, and he has been involved in several high-profile investigations during his tenure with the ED.
Last September, Navin stepped into the role of acting director of the Enforcement Directorate after the Supreme Court deemed the repeated extensions granted to his predecessor, Sanjay Kumar Mishra, as "illegal."
The Supreme Court had strongly criticised the Union government for extending Mishra’s term multiple times, questioning if the entire department lacked competent officers other than Mishra. This judicial intervention led to Navin’s appointment as the interim chief, and now, his elevation to the full-time director signals a new phase for the agency.
During his time as the interim head of the ED, Navin oversaw several significant investigations, including the high-profile arrests of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in separate money laundering cases.
These cases drew substantial attention and highlighted the Enforcement Directorate's role in tackling corruption and financial misconduct at the highest levels of government.
The Enforcement Directorate operates under the purview of several laws, including the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA).
Additionally, the agency is responsible for enforcing civil provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). As the newly appointed director, Navin will be tasked with leading the agency’s efforts in investigating and prosecuting financial crimes across the country.
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