Rahul Navin Appointed as Full-Time Director of Enforcement Directorate
Rahul Navin, an IRS officer from the 1993 batch of the Income Tax cadre, has been appointed as the full-time Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the federal agency responsible for combating money laundering in India. The appointment, confirmed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), is for two years or until further orders.
Navin, 57, who holds a B.Tech and M.Tech from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, joined the ED in November 2019 as a Special Director (OSD). He played a key role in India’s evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global body focused on combating money laundering.
Previously serving as the Acting Director of the ED following the end of his predecessor Sanjay Kumar Mishra’s tenure, Navin is known for his strong leadership and decisive actions. During his time as head, the ED made high-profile arrests, including those of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in separate money laundering cases.
Navin’s expertise in international taxation spans over three decades in the Income Tax Department, where he handled significant offshore transactions, including the Vodafone case. His background includes authoring various journals and a book titled “Information Exchange and Tax Transparency: Tackling Global Tax Evasion and Avoidance,” reflecting his extensive experience in global tax matters.
Under Navin’s leadership, the ED has intensified its investigations and secured multiple convictions in recent months. He has also ensured that ED teams operate securely, providing them with armed protection and safeguarding agency offices with paramilitary forces.
As the ED Director, Navin oversees investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), as well as civil provisions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). His appointment marks a new chapter in the agency’s efforts to combat financial crimes in India.
