The Ministry of Finance has admitted to at least 11 instances in the past five years where officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were either arrested, charged, or formally accused of soliciting or accepting bribes.

The revelation came in a written reply by Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary in response to an unstarred question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Shri A. A. Rahim.

Despite these instances, the Ministry confirmed that none of the cases were disclosed in the annual reports of the Finance Ministry during the same period. This omission raises concerns about transparency and internal accountability in one of the country’s most powerful investigative agencies.

To a query regarding protection for complainants in ongoing ED investigations when allegations are made against ED officials themselves, the Minister assured that mechanisms are in place to prevent any prejudice. According to the response, vigilance complaints are examined by the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the Directorate of Enforcement, in line with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines.

Field officers are explicitly barred from handling vigilance complaints themselves. Such complaints must be sent directly to the CVO to ensure impartiality.

Additionally, individuals who seek confidentiality may file complaints under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers (PIDPI) Resolution, 2004. These complaints are routed through the Central Vigilance Commission, which authenticates the information before forwarding it to the concerned authority, shielding the complainant’s identity in the process.

The reply has reignited debate about the need for greater oversight of investigative bodies and timely public disclosure of internal misconduct to preserve institutional credibility.

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