PolityGovernance
News 18 of 30

Enforcement Directorate Declares 21 Fugitive Economic Offenders, Confiscates ₹2,178 Crore Under 2018 FEO Act

PolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
01 May 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:21 FEOs₹2,178.34 crore assets₹100 crore threshold9 FEOs in 2025-26
Bodies:Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has declared 21 individuals as Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEOs) under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

2.Assets worth approximately ₹2,178.34 crore have been confiscated, with nine individuals declared FEOs in the 2025-26 financial year alone.

3.The news underscores the legal process and institutional mechanism (ED, Special PMLA Courts) for tackling high-value economic crimes and asset recovery.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The Enforcement Directorate's annual report highlights a major crackdown on high-value economic fugitives. 21 individuals, including Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, have been declared Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEOs) under the 2018 Act, leading to the confiscation of assets worth ₹2,178 crore. This demonstrates the government's legal framework to pursue offenders who flee the country to evade prosecution.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Total FEOs Declared21 individuals
Assets Confiscated₹2,178.34 crore
FEOs Declared in 2025-269 individuals
Minimum Value for FEO₹100 crore or more

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Total FEOs Declared: 21 individuals
  • ›Assets Confiscated: ₹2,178.34 crore
  • ›Target this Data: 21 declared FEOs and ₹2,178 crore confiscated (Prelims fact).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Ministry of Finance.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), 2018, and the ₹100 crore threshold.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which ministry does the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the agency responsible for declaring Fugitive Economic Offenders, function?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA):

1. It applies only to offences involving a value of less than ₹100 crore.

2. An individual can be declared an FEO even if they are present in India and facing trial.

3. The Act allows for the confiscation of the offender's property in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the ED's annual report cited in the article, what is the total value of assets confiscated from the declared Fugitive Economic Offenders?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary legal consequence for an individual once they are declared a Fugitive Economic Offender under the FEO Act?

All 25 MCQs ▸
You finished this topic
Explore Related Topics
Related Current Affairs
Polity Current Affairs

Tata Trusts’ 66% Stake & Affirmative Voting Rights under Articles 104B, 121: SC Verdict Explained

Tata Trusts, holding about 66% of Tata Sons, are challenging the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as executive chairman, citing the affirmative voting rights of their nominee directors under the Articles of Association. The Supreme Court’s 2021 Tata-Mistry judgment upheld these special rights, making it the key legal backdrop to the current boardroom dispute. For exams, this news tests corporate governance, fiduciary duties, and the binding force of a company’s Articles.

Polity Current Affairs

AP High Court Declares Three-Capitals Petitions Infructuous; Amaravati Now Sole Capital Under AP Reorganisation (Amendment) Act 2026

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has deemed all petitions against the proposed three-capitals model as infructuous after Parliament amended the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, making Amaravati the sole capital by law. This ends a long-standing political and legal battle, with implications for state governance and federal structure.

Polity Current Affairs

MahaRERA Strikes Down Builder's Unilateral Cancellation Clause, Orders Interest from Oct 2023 Under RERA Act

MahaRERA has declared illegal a contractual clause that allowed a builder to unilaterally cancel a flat allotment via Power of Attorney, reinforcing statutory safeguards under the RERA Act. The developer was ordered to pay interest for delayed possession from October 1, 2023. This ruling is a key example of regulatory protection for homebuyers and a must-know for exams covering RERA, consumer rights, and state-level governance.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Asks if PMLA Adjudicating Authority Can Confirm Attachments Without Judicial Member; Only 60 of 8,851 ED Cases Went to Trial

The Supreme Court questioned whether the PMLA Adjudicating Authority can validly confirm asset attachment orders when sitting without a judicial member, given the massive workload of thousands of cases per tribunal. With ED data showing only 60 of 8,851 cases went to trial, the core issue is whether quasi-judicial functions are being performed properly or merely rubber-stamped.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

18th BRICS Summit: New Delhi Declaration Adopted; PM Modi-Xi Bilateral Talks for Ties Stabilization

India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi where leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration with consensus despite West Asia tensions. PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping after a 7-year gap, focusing on trade and stability. The article also covers key domestic news including Balaghat child deaths, tribal families in Kerala still in plastic tents, and an NIA warrant against Hafiz Saeed.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Upholds EC's SIR, Citizenship Under MHA; 13 Crore Deletions, Aadhaar Alternative Proposed

The Supreme Court upheld the EC's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which deleted over 13 crore names, but clarified that citizenship determination is solely under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This raises critical debates on voter rights, due process, and the viability of Aadhaar-based verification as a cost-effective, inclusive alternative to house-to-house surveys.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Declares BCI Has No Power to Punish Law Students Under Advocates Act, 1961

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Bar Council of India (BCI) cannot initiate disciplinary action against law students, as its powers under the Advocates Act, 1961 are limited only to registered advocates. The ruling came in response to a petition challenging BCI's move to bar professional enrolment of students over a convocation dispute. This clarifies the extent of BCI's regulatory authority and protects student rights.

Polity Current Affairs

Madras HC: No Sanction Needed Under BNSS Section 218 for Disproportionate Assets Cases

The Madras High Court has ruled that no prior sanction is required under Section 197 CrPC or Section 218 BNSS to prosecute public servants for disproportionate assets, because such an offence has no nexus with official duty. The ruling, which refused to discharge former DMK Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam and his family, clarifies a key examiner-relevant dimension of the Prevention of Corruption Act.